Studies on the effect of long‐chain and head groups of nonionic surfactants synthesized from palm and coconut oil on the formation of silver nanoparticles

Abstract

AbstractFour fatty amides were synthesized using coconut and palm oil sources. The chemical structure of the as‐prepared fatty acids was confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT‐IR) and 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy. The effect of different chain lengths and head groups of these compounds on Ag nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis was investigated. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopic studies showed characteristic absorbance peaks (λmax ≈ 410 nm). FT‐IR results indicated that the surfactant functionalities are responsible for the Ag NPs stability. The effect of fatty amides on the morphology and size distribution of the Ag NPs was investigated using transmission electron microscope (TEM). The TEM micrographs showed the formation of fine spherical morphology due to surfactant‐mediated self‐assembly with an average particle size of 1–3 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis showed the micellar self‐assembly of Ag NPs‐fatty amides. The effect of surfactant on the solution behavior was analyzed using surface tension measurements. Cocamide and palm DEA showed relatively low free energy (∆Gmic) values, resulting in smaller particles with good distribution. Finally, the Ag NPs showed outstanding antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas putida bacteria.