Green assembly of silver nanoparticles on PET by using silymarin as a natural reductant

Abstract

Chemical and physical synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has become an urgent problem due to its high application cost and secondary pollution. This study used the plant extract, silymarin, as a green reductant to prepare polyethylene terephthalate/ethylenediamine/silver nanoparticles@silymarin (PET/EDA/AgNPs@Silymarin) and explored its catalytic mechanism and effect. The results showed that the coating of AgNPs on PET demonstrates the potential of silymarin as an environmentally friendly reducing agent. The obtained AgNPs had a strong peak at 402 nm on UV–vis spectrophotometer. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) also confirmed that AgNPs were loaded on PET and existed in various shapes with an average particle size of 20.2 nm. PET/EDA/AgNPs@Silymarin with 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a target pollutant also exhibited excellent catalytic properties. The catalytic productivity of PET/EDA/AgNPs@Silymarin was approximately 92.56 % after 5 cycles. Conceivably, the strategy of AgNPs synthesis by silymarin provides a new pathway for green synthesis and cost control.