GSJ: Volume 12, Issue 3, March 2024, Online: ISSN 2320-9186 www.globalscientificjournal.com GREEN SYNTHESIS OF ZERO V ALENT IRON NANOPARTICLES USING THE LEAVES EXTRACT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA Zainab Mika’il Zakari 1 , Chukwu Emmanuel Ogwu 2 , Muhammed Hatim Garuba 3 , Aisha Hamza 4 , Ogbu Victor Chinedu 5 , Ali Agaka Aremu 6 and Stephen Okanezi 7 1 Chemistry Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria; 2 AMOTOI Global Service Limited; 3 Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry Department, Kwara State University Malete; 4 Chemistry Department, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto State; 5 Laser Engineering and Resources Consultants Limited; 6 Chemistry Department, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; 7 Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited KeyWords Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Iron, Moringa Oleifera, Nanoparticles, Synthesis, Zero-Valent. ABSTRACT The Importance of synthesizing nanoparticles using plant extracts is being emphasized globally, as an alternative to tradi- tional methods because they are cost-effective, nontoxic, biocompatible and eco-friendly. In this study, green synthesis and characterization of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (ZVIN) using the leaves extract of Moringa oleifera, zero-valent iron nanoparticles were synthesized by mixing 6ml of Moringa oleifera leaves extract with 4ml of Fe2SO4. The synthesized zero- valent iron nanoparticles (ZVIN) were characterized by the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) reveals that the polyphenols present in the Moringa oleifera leaves extract are re- sponsible for the reduction and stabilization of the zero valent iron nanoparticles (ZVIN). FT-IR spectra of the extracts and nanosuspensions were similar, with peaks observed at around 3300–3400 cm 1, 1600 cm 1, 1050–1150 cm 1 and 500 cm 1, corresponding to O–H, C=O, C–O and C–H stretching, indicating the participation of biomolecules in the zero-valent iron nanoparticles (ZVIN) synthesis process. TheFT-IR spectra reveals that the polyphenols present in the Moringa oleifera leaves extract are responsible for the reduction and stabilization of the zero valent iron nanoparticles (ZVIN). The results obtained in this study confirmed that Moringa oleifera leaves extract can play an important role in the bioreduction of Fe ions to zero- valent iron nanoparticles (ZVIN). 1. Introduction Nanoparticles are gaining importance in different fields which include engineering, chemical science, physical science, biomedical science, food and feed cosmetics, space technology, environmental, drug and gene delivary. Nanoparticles, which are the basic build- ing blocks of nanotechnology, are particles ranging from 1 to 100nm in size. Nanoparticles can be synthesized by two general ap- proaches which are top-down and bottom-up. The top-down approach deals with synthesis of nanoparticles through physical methods such as milling, etching and machining of large size materials, while the bottom-up approach deals with synthesis of nanoparticles through chemical and biological methods such as precipitation, positional assembling and self-assembling [4]. The three main methods of synthesizing nanoparticles are the physical, chemical and biological methods [9]. Despite the fact that chemical and physical methods may successfully produce fine nanoparticles, they require a huge amount of energy and are very ex- pensive and dangerous due to the involvement of expensive, flammable and toxic and reducing agents.Biological method which in- volves the use of plants is utalized as an alternative method for synthesizing nanoparticle, which is economical and eco-friendly in comparison to physical and chemical methods [3, 8]. Green synthesis of nanoparticles is gaining importance due to its eco-friendliness GSJ: Volume 12, Issue 3, March 2024 ISSN 2320-9186 766 GSJ© 2024 www.globalscientificjournal.com