Journal of Petroleum Research

Journal of Petroleum Research

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using mulberry leaf extract under microwave irradiation: Optimization and antifungal properties

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
10.22078/pr.2026.5796.3578
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles hold a special place in various branches of nanotechnology due to their high antifungal efficacy and biological stability. The use of green methods, such as synthesis with plant extracts and microwave heating, can simultaneously improve both the performance and biocompatibility. Optimizing the production conditions leads to a balance between physical characteristics and biological effects. In the present study, mulberry leaf extract was used as a reducing agent for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Using response surface methodology (RSM) for experimental design, the synthesis process was optimized within an extract volume range of 5 to 15 mL and a microwave heating duration of 1 to 5 minutes. The optimization results indicated that an extract volume of 11.39 mL and a heating time of 8.6 minutes were the most suitable conditions for the synthesis process. Under these optimal conditions, the highest concentration and the smallest average nanoparticle size were achieved at 67.11 ppm and 66 nm, respectively. Finally, evaluation of the nanoparticles synthesized under the optimal conditions revealed antioxidant and antifungal activities of 52.31% and 74.17%, respectively.
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