Rhamnolipids produced using a byproduct of biodiesel industry as stabilizing agents in silver nanoparticles formation

The synthesis of nanoparticles is generally performed by complex physical and chemical processes including high temperature and pressure, furthermore, the use of toxic chemicals implies a high environmental risk, in response to this problem arises green chemistry for the production of nanoparticles and one option is the synthesis by reverse micelles using biosurfactants. Rhamnolipids are glycolipids type biosurfactants which has the ability to form aggregates spontaneously, given the conditions. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using rhamnolipids produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI 2A1 from glycerol byproduct from the biodiesel industry. The micelles were synthesized using a pseudo-ternary solution rhamnolipids / n-butanol / n-heptane / water, and NaBH4 as chelating agent. Rhamnolipids acted as a stabilizing agent in the synthesis process while the structures of the micelles were those that defined the form of nanoparticles. It was confirmed by analysis of FEG-SEM the formation of nanoparticles and EDS analysis was confirmed the presence of silver in the nanoparticles created.