The main methods of producing nanoparticles are often cost effective and harmful to the environment. The green synthesis of nanoparticles has been proposed as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative of the previous methods. At present the metal nanoparticle synthesis using plant extracts has become a major focus of researchers.

1. Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles and its
advantages and disadvantages
 Name of the Contributor: Jayita Dan
 Department: Physics
 Brainware university
 https://www.brainwareuniversity.ac.in/

2. Summary
The main methods of producing nanoparticles
are often cost effective and harmful to the
environment. The green synthesis of
nanoparticles has been proposed as a cost-
effective and eco-friendly alternative of the
previous methods. At present the metal
nanoparticle synthesis using plant extracts has
become a major focus of researchers.

3. Nanomaterials have been synthesized using
various methods. The best method is
production of metal nanoparticles using
organisms. Among these organisms plants
and plant extracts seem to be the best option
as they are suitable for extensive biosynthesis
of nanoparticles. The green synthesis is an
alternative, inexpensive, most efficient and
safe method of producing nanoparticles also
more varieties (various shapes and sizes) of
nanoparticles are produced by plant extract.

4. The plant extract is simply mixed with the metal at
room temperature. It generally takes a few minutes to
complete the reaction. Various plants extract most
commonly Neem, Aloe Vera, Datura metel,
Eucalyptus, Jatropha curcas, Black tea leaf extracts
are mixed with gold, silver and other nanometals to
produce the more efficient nanomaterials. The
properties of nanomaterials depend on the
concentration ratio of metal and plant extract, pH
level, temperature and time of reaction, etc. To
understand the possible mechanism a diagram is
given below.

6. Advantages of Green Synthesis of
Nanoparticles:
1. It produces less toxic waste when we use plant extract to produce a nanomaterial
than the production of nanoparticles using the chemical methods. It is a raising
concern among the environmentalists as the chemical method has an adverse effect
on the environment. Hence the use of plant extracts for the formation of
nanoparticles is being increased in recent days.
2. Metal nanoparticles produced by plant extracts are comparatively more stable than
those produced by other organisms. Plants extracts are able to minimize metal ions
faster than fungi or bacteria and other organisms.
3. The plant extracts are reduced and stabilized the agents for the nanoparticles.
Otherwise, these agents have to be externally added by other methods which
became costly.
4. The maintenance cost is much less in this method. Also, the production cost is
comparatively less than the chemical method. This method is even to cost effectively
than the biological method because the cost of maintenance of whole plant system is
much less than the culture of bacteria.
5. It is very easy to produce because there is no need of high temperature, pressure,
energy and toxic chemicals.

7. Disadvantages of Green Synthesis of
Nanoparticles:
 1. Plant extracts cannot be manipulated by
optimizing synthesis as the choice of
nanoparticles through genetic engineering.
 2. Many bio molecules in plants such as proteins,
amino acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, alcoholic
compounds, and vitamins could be produced a
critical effect.
 The future approaches to increase the
productivity, researchers are involved in genetic
modification of plants with improved metal
tolerance and accumulation capacities.