Chromium oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were rapidly synthesized by reduction of potassium dichromate solution with Arachis hypogaea leaf extract containing reducing sugars which act as reducing agent. The results indicated that the aldehyde groups present in the plant extract played an important role in the formation of Cr2O3 nanoparticles. The purification process of the Cr2O3 product does not require expensive methods, since a solid product is obtained from a reaction in liquid phase. The antibacterial effect of Cr2O3 nanoparticles against Escherichia coli was investigated as a model for Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteriological tests were performed in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium on solid agar plates and in liquid systems supplemented with different concentrations of nanosized Cr2O3 particles. These particles were shown to be an effective bactericide. The resulting Cr2O3 nanoparticles were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-VIS absorption and Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
