Palm shell extract capped silver nanoparticles — As efficient catalysts for degradation of dyes and as SERS substrates

Abstract

This study reports the synthesis of spherical silver nanoparticles capped with polyphenols from palm shell extract, which exhibit remarkable stability after several months under ambient conditions. The characteristics were investigated by UV, IR, XRD, TEM, EDX and Raman analysis. The capping and the size of the synthesized nano particles was suitable for providing sufficient hot spots for the nanoparticles to function as active substrates for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic detection of cationic and anionic dyes. The potential of the nanoparticles for catalytic degradation of a copper phthalocyanine based dye — Reactive blue-21 (RB-21), azo dye — Reactive Red-141 (RR-141) and a xanthene dye — Rhodamine-6G (Rh-6G) as well as binary mixtures of the dyes was evaluated. The catalyst presented long term stability during multiple runs of degradation of the dyes. In addition to decolorisation of the dyes the catalyst also caused a significant reduction in Total Organic Carbon (TOC).