GREEN NANOBIOCATALYSTS DERIVED FROM INDIGENOUS PLANT EXTRACTS FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTEWATER REMEDIATION

Abstract

Green nanobiocatalysts synthesized from indigenous plant extracts offer a promising and environmentally sustainable approach to wastewater remediation. This study aimed to develop and evaluate plant-mediated nanobiocatalysts for the efficient removal of selected wastewater pollutants. Indigenous plant extracts were used as biological reducing and stabilizing agents, followed by nanobiocatalyst synthesis, optimization, and physicochemical characterization. Remediation performance was evaluated under varying pH, contact time, pollutant concentration, temperature, and nanobiocatalyst dosage. The findings indicated high pollutant-removal efficiency, with the best-performing nanobiocatalyst achieving approximately 94% removal under optimized conditions. Treatment efficiency varied significantly with nanobiocatalyst type and operating parameters (p < .05). The findings suggest that indigenous plant-derived nanobiocatalysts can provide an effective, low-cost, and environmentally compatible platform for wastewater treatment. Further research should validate performance using real wastewater, assess reusability and ecotoxicity, and evaluate techno-economic feasibility at pilot scale.