A mangrove associated halotolerant bacterium identified as Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica mediated the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Interaction of P. lipolytica cells with chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) resulted in the synthesis of cell associated AuNPs that could be released in an extracellular manner after sonication. For obtaining extracellular AgNPs, pre-grown cells were subjected to osmotic shock treatment by re-suspending cells in distilled water. The preparation was centrifuged and the filtered supernatant was challenged with 4 mM AgNO3. The biogenic NPs were characterized on the basis of UV–vis spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope observations, Transmission Electron Microscope studies, X-Ray Diffraction profiles and Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The size of AuNPs and AgNPs ranged between 10–30 nm and 5–15 nm, respectively. The active components in the preparation after osmotic shock treatment were subjected to thin layer chromatography, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) analysis. Five oligopeptides, Ile-Arg, His-Asp-Asp, Glu-Ile-Lys, Lys-Asp-Asn, and Arg-Arg-Gln were identified in the active band. AuNPs brought about 91% decolorization of methylene blue and congo red dyes. With AgNPs, 92% of congo red was decolorized. The rate constants for methylene blue and congo red decolorization using AuNPs were 0.2545 and 0.1587 min−1, respectively. For congo red dye decolorization by AgNPs the rate constant was 0.1882 min−1. These peptide stabilized NPs could be used as effective catalysts for sodium borohydride mediated decolorization of methylene blue and congo red dyes.
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