Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles, Bioactivity Profiling and Assessment of Photocatalytic Dye Degradation Activity in Punica granatum Juice

Abstract

Abstract: The textile businesses, particularly dyeing industry is the major polluter in the globe, since the dye manufacturing necessitates a huge quantity of water. Plant mediated nanomaterials has the potential to dramatically accelerate the green revolution in the nanomaterial sectors where environmental contamination is a major problem. In the present study, Punica granatum fruit juice was used as plant source to carry out the green synthesis of AgNPs, reported for the first time. The Punica granatum is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, responsible in the reduction of Ag+ ions to form AgNPs. The synthesized Punica granatum AgNPs were investigated using UV-vis spectrophotometry, where they had exhibited a visible color change and the maximum absorption peak at 421nm, confirming the formation Punica granatum AgNPs. The SEM analysis had revealed the particles morphology and confirmed the rectangular, spherical and rod structure of the particles. The FTIR analysis had shown the presence of different functional group responsible in the reduction and formation of AgNPs. Further, the dynamic light scattering has depicted the average size to be 228.3nm of the formed AgNPs and the size distribution of the particles in the colloidal solution. The photocatalytic degradation MB dye was carried out using the biosynthesized AgNPs and NaBH4, resulting in 99.4% degradation activity, with an increased concentration of the colloidal Punica granatum AgNPs. The quantitative detection of heavy metal salt solution was performed, with the use of Punica granatum AgNPs as a biosensor, showed its sensitivity towards mercury. The antibacterial activity performed against the following bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Proteus sp., which had resulted in the formation of a clear zone of inhibition. Punica granatum AgNPs had also showed maximum of 80.94% of DPPH scavenging activity.