US Patent 8057682 - Plant synthesis of nanoparticle metals for decontamination

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8057682.html

This patent from VeruTEK Technologies relates to metal nanoparticles formed with solutions of plant extracts and the use of these metal nanoparticles in removing contaminants from soil and groundwater. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for reducing the concentration of a contaminant in a medium, comprising:

combining a metal nanoparticle with the medium;

introducing a plant-based surfactant into the medium; and

allowing the metal nanoparticle to reduce the concentration of or stimulate biological reduction of the concentration of the contaminant.