ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Green synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles using Aeschynomene indica leaf extract and their application in the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange

Sajda S. Affat and Denys Snigur

Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Thi-Qar, Thi-Qar, Iraq

E-mail: sajida.j_mschem@sci.utq.edu.iq

Received: 8 August 2025  Accepted: 17 November 2025

Abstract:

An eco-friendly synthetic method is proposed for the preparation of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) using Aeschynomene indica leaf extract as a bio-template. The morphological, functional, and structural characteristics of the synthesized MgONPs were investigated using various analytical techniques, including FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The resulting MgONPs show an average particle size of approximately 51 nm. Beyond their physicochemical features, the synthesized MgONPs demonstrated excellent photocatalytic performance by achieving up to 95% degradation of methyl orange dye within 120 min under optimal conditions, including irradiation time, pH, dye concentration, and catalyst dosage. The results demonstrate that MgONPs synthesized via this green approach exhibit significant photocatalytic efficiency toward the degradation of dye molecules. This high efficiency highlights their strong potential for real-life application in wastewater treatment, offering a sustainable and cost-effective approach for removing hazardous dyes from contaminated water.

Keywords: Aeschynomene indica leaves extract; Green synthesis; Nanoparticles; Magnesium oxide; Photocatalytic degradation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04529-z

Chemical Papers 80 (3) 2529–2536 (2026)