Synthesis of chitosan and gum arabic functionalized silver nanocomposite for efficient removal of methylene blue and antibacterial activity

Abstract

AbstractThe discharge of industrial effluent has a harmful effect on the aquatic ecosystems and surrounding environment. The unprocessed discharge of organic dyes into the aquatic environment is a significant contributor to the aquatic pollution. Hence, it is imperative to ensure the proper disposal of organic colorants and their derivatives before their discharge into wastewater. The present study aimed to synthesis silver (Ag) nanocomposite using gum arabic (GA) and chitosan (CS) by an environment‐friendly and sustainable method. The formulated Ag nanocomposite was characterized using UV–visible, FTIR, TEM coupled with EDS. The FTIR analysis demonstrated the existence of polymers that have a crucial role in the formation of nano‐Ag‐composite. TEM revealed that the synthesized Ag nanocomposite had a spherical nanostructure, with diameters ranging from 18 to 95 nm. Further studies were conducted on Ag nanocomposite to analyze the breakdown of Methylene Blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The synthesized Ag nanocomposite demonstrated a removal efficiency of 93.3% for MB after 60 min. Furthermore, the reusability of the Ag nanocomposite was studied, and it demonstrated substantial photocatalytic activity after three consecutive cycles. In addition, Ag nanocomposite (100 μg/mL) demonstrated potential inhibition against Escherichia coli (20 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm). Finally, our findings showed that the synthesized nanocomposite can be employed as an outstanding photocatalyst and also bactericidal agent in both industrial and clinical sectors.