Determining Iron(III) Concentration in a Green Chemistry Experiment Using Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry) Extract and Spectrophotometry

A laboratory experiment utilizing locally available Indian Gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.) extract as a bioreagent to determine iron(III) is described with the goal of providing students with hands-on experience in spectrophotometry and green chemistry. Spectrophotometry was used to measure the concentration of the complex formed between iron(III) and gallic acid, an active compound found in Indian Gooseberry extract. Excellent results from the quantitative analysis of iron(III) in water were achieved. In this case, the bioreagent was used to replace the conventional hazardous chemicals that are usually employed as chromogenic reagents. The use of Indian Gooseberry extract is simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. This experiment is appropriate for use as a simple spectrophotometric protocol for undergraduate teaching in an analytical- or general-chemistry laboratory.