A Study of Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles using Plant Extracts and their Biological and Environmental Applications

Nanomaterials (NMs)-based technology is a powerful tool in the current scenario because of their size and unique physicochemical properties. Green synthesized NMs are promising in creating new and vital products that are beneficial to the environment, industry, and humans. Due to its simplicity, nontoxicity, and environmentally benign advantages, the synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) using green techniques has received a lot of attention recently. Every day, attention is drawn to recycling waste and putting it to good use. NPs are easily manufactured in a green, energy-free manner using plant extracts that are not intended for human consumption. Metal-based NPs are widely used due to their applications, including medicine, biomedical sciences, biosensing, food, cosmetics, and electronics. NPs produced from novel synthesis techniques using plant extracts have remarkable qualities. In the synthesis of NPs via the green approach, many metals such as silver, gold, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, and magnesium are used due to their unique physical and optical properties. In this chapter, the authors have reported the mechanisms of various green methods of synthesis of NPs, their biological and environmental applications along with their challenges and prospects.