Valorization of Vaccinium corymbosum waste from the extraction of bioactive compounds: Nanoparticles synthesis and applications

This study presents the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO NPs) using V. corymbosum extracts as a reducing agent, varying the ultrasound extraction times (t1 = 20 min, t2 = 15 min, t3 = 10 min). Ag NPs exhibited an antimicrobial efficiency of 98.2 %, being most effective with t2 due to their smaller size. ZnO NPs demonstrated the best thermal stability with t1, and FeO NPs showed optimal magnetic properties with t3. The reduction of methylene blue by ZnO and FeO NPs was significant, with ZnO-t1 and FeO-t3 standing out. The nanoparticles exhibited distinctive optical characteristics and adequate morphology, depending on the extraction time. This work highlights the feasibility of using natural extracts to synthesize nanoparticles, promoting sustainable methods in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Future research should focus on the functionalization of NPs to expand their applications.