Magnesium and iron nanoparticles production using microorganisms and various salts

Response of five fungi and two bacteria to different salts of magnesium and iron for production of nanoparticles was studied. Pochonia chlamydosporium , and Aspergillus fumigatus were exposed to three salts of magnesium while Curvularia lunata, Chaetomium globosum, A. fumigatus, A. wentii and the bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis and Bacillus coagulans were exposed to two salts of iron for nanoparticle production. The results revealed that P. chlamydosporium induces development of extracellular nanoparticles in MgCl 2 solution while A. fumigatus produces also intracellular nanoparticles when exposed to MgSO 4 solution. C. globosum was found as the most effective in producing nanoparticles when exposed to Fe 2 O 3 solution. The FTIR analysis of the nanoparticles obtained from Fe 2 O 3 solution showed the peaks similar to iron (Fe). In general, the species of the tested microbes were selective to different chemicals in their response for synthesis of nanoparticles. Further studies on their characterization and improving the efficiency of promising species of fungi need to be undertaken before tapping their potential as nanonutrients for plants.