Silver nanoparticles synthesis from Crinum moorei: Optimization, characterization, kinetics and catalytic application

Abstract

Nanotechnology has been developing tremendously since the 1970s. Various types of nanoparticles such as carbon, metal, bio-originated, etc. have been synthesized by a variety of physical, chemical and biological methods. Biological methods which employ bacteria, fungi and plants for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles are found to be a sustainable and eco-friendly approach. Among biological methods, plants being a cleaner and greener source are widely accepted. The present work includes screening the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the roots and leaves extract of 15 different Indian Crinum species, optimization, characterization and kinetic studies of silver nanoparticles. Among all the species, the highest synthesis was observed by Crinum moorei which was detected by apeak at 390 nm in UV–visible spectrophotometry. The optimization of silver nanoparticle synthesis from C. moorei roots was performed based on extract concentration (1 %), salt concentration (1.5 mM), pH (9) and temperature (30°C). The kinetics study of silver nanoparticles showed a rate constant of 0.0609 h−1. Furthermore, the characterization of synthesized silver nanoparticles was conducted using TEM, SEM, FTIR, XRD, NTA and DLS. These synthesized AgNPs exhibited catalytic activity for Congo red dye decolorization, which could serve as an initiative for the further studies to control the environmental pollution caused by dyes and colorants.