Synthesis of spherical carbon nanoparticles from orange peel and their surface modification with chitosan: Evaluation of optical properties, biocompatibility, antioxidant and anti-hemolytic activity

Authors

• Asma Ben Amor, University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar
• Hadia Hemmami, University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar
• Mohammed Taher Gherbi, University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar
• Bachir Ben Seghir, University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar
• Soumeia Zeghoud, University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar
• Ahlam Hacine Gharbi, University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar
• Djihad Chenna, University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar
• Ilham Ben Amor, University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar
• Huda Alsaeedi, College of Sciences
• David Cornu, University Montpellier
• Mikhael Bechelany, University Montpellier
• Ahmed Barhoum, School of Chemical and BioPharmaceutical Science

ORCID

• Ahmed Barhoum: 0000-0002-4859-5264

Abstract

This study presents a sustainable approach to synthesizing carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) from orange peel waste through a process involving thermal treatment, chemical activation, and ultrasonication, producing spherical CNPs of approximately 70 nm in size. The surface of the CNPs was modified with chitosan, resulting in a chitosan@CNPs composite with enhanced functional properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the CNPs possess a crystalline structure, while the chitosan@CNPs nanocomposite exhibited distinct crystalline peaks attributable to chitosan. SEM–EDX analysis showed a higher carbon content in chitosan@CNPs (68.09%) compared to CNPs (63.33%), indicating successful surface modification. Additionally, UV–Vis spectroscopy demonstrated that chitosan@CNPs had a slightly higher band gap energy (3.92 eV) compared to CNPs (3.86 eV), reflecting altered optical properties. The anti-hemolytic activity of chitosan@CNPs was 74.4% at 20 mg/mL, slightly higher than CNPs at 70.1%, when compared to the standard (ascorbic acid). However, the antioxidant activity of CNPs was higher (89.52%) than that of chitosan@CNPs (59.97%). Cytotoxicity assessments confirmed the biocompatibility of both materials, with minimal cytotoxic effects observed. These findings suggest that orange peel waste-derived CNPs hold potential for applications in drug delivery, biosensing, and environmental remediation.

Keywords

Antioxidant activity, Biocompatibility, Carbon nanoparticles, Chitosan composites, Green synthesis, Orange peel waste, Waste valorization

DOI Link

10.1007/s13399-024-06291-w

Publication Date

2025-01-01

Publication Title

Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery

Volume

15

Issue

7

ISSN

2190-6815

First Page

11345

Last Page

11358

Deposit Date

2025-07-21

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Additional Links

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003242578

Recommended Citation

Ben Amor, Asma; Hemmami, Hadia; Gherbi, Mohammed Taher; Seghir, Bachir Ben; Zeghoud, Soumeia; Gharbi, Ahlam Hacine; Chenna, Djihad; Ben Amor, Ilham; Alsaeedi, Huda; Cornu, David; Bechelany, Mikhael; and Barhoum, Ahmed, "Synthesis of spherical carbon nanoparticles from orange peel and their surface modification with chitosan: Evaluation of optical properties, biocompatibility, antioxidant and anti-hemolytic activity" (2025). Research Outputs: 2025-Present. 42.
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/scschcpsro/42