Influence of nontoxic biopolymer Arabic Gum as stabilizing and reducing agents in the formation of nanosilver in aqueous and micellar media

Abstract

Biosynthesis of the nanosilver using Arabic Gum (AG, nontoxic natural polymer) as reducing and stabilizing agents in the absence and presence of surfactants was investigated. The results indicate that AG has a dual role in the in the formation of nanosilver as a stabilizing and an efficient reducing agent. The rate of the synthesis of nanosilver is enhanced in alkaline medium over the pH range (10.83–12.00). The reaction between silver(I) and AG was studied under pseudo-first-order condition using excess concentration of AG. At higher temperature (>50 °C), AG act as reducing and stabilizing agents but at lower temperature as stabilizing agent. The rate of the formation of nanosilver increases with increasing [CTAB] but Triton X-100 had no effect. The yellow color of the silver sols was monitored using UV-spectrophotometry, showing that the color of silver sols is more stable for long time in the presence AG as stabilizing. The characterization of nanosilver by FTIR, EDS, SEM, and TEM was investigated, confirming that the formation of the small uniform size of the nanoparticles.