Green synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles for furfural production by photohydrolysis of unexplored residual biomass: the nejayote

Abstract

Green synthesis is characterized by using plants’ secondary metabolites (S-Met) to reduce metal ions into metallic atoms, which are subsequently nucleated and agglomerated, forming the nanoparticles (NPs). Thereby, the significant diminishing in producing toxic waste during the green synthesis approach may be considered an environmentally friendly alternative. In the present work, titania (TiO2) NPs were greenly synthesized using Ricinus Communis (RC), Moringa Oleifera (MO) or Bougainvillea Spectabilis (BS) plant extracts. Obtained nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, SEM, EDS, BET, XPS and UV-vis techniques. The physicochemical and electronic properties of synthesized nanoparticles were improved concerning the reference material. The surface area increased up to 17 times, accompanied by a decrease in crystal size (∼50%) and gap energy value. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance of the obtained samples was evaluated in the furfural production from nejayote, an unexplored industrial residual biomass. The furfural yield was twice higher using the sample obtained from the BS metabolites than those obtained with the other S-Met, attributed to the preferable formation of xylose over other pentoses. This work proved the viability of nanomaterial synthesis using common plants abundant in Latin-American applied for the waste transformation coming from an overall process such as nixtamalization, the nejayote.