Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as photocatalyst in the photodegradation of rhemazol brilliant blue

Abstract

The phytosynthesis of silver nano particles (AgNPs) and its use as a photocatalyst to photodegrade rhemazol brilliant blue are discussed. The AgNPs was prepared by reducing Ag+ from 0.01 M AgNO3 using frangipani (Plumeria rubra) water extract. The photodegradation was conducted by irradiating the suspension of the coloring agent and the AgNPs with UV rays at 259 nm. The optimum p H, AgNPs volume, and irradiation time were determined by measuring the degradation percentages at various pH, AgNPs volumes, and irradiation times. The study found that the optimum photodegradation occurred at pH 4, using 10 mL AgNPs, and irradiated for 60 minutes. Under the optimum conditions, AgNPs is capable of effectively photodegrading (97.84 ± 1.09) % of 600 ppm rhemazol brilliant blue