Nano structured silver particles as green catalyst for remediation of methylene blue dye from water

Abstract

Abstract Anthropogenic dyes are one of the major pollutants often found in industrial wastewater. They are very stable as they contain robust aromatic moiety and are highly hazardous to human health and livelihood. There are several methods for the treatment of dye-containing wastewater. However, these techniques have severe limitations in terms of cost, the time required, and the generation of secondary waste. In this regard, silver nanoparticle-based catalysts can prove to be highly useful. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by a green method, and the condition of synthesis was optimized by varying different parameters such as the concentration ratio of metal salt and plant extract, temperature, and pH of the reaction medium. The biogenic silver nanoparticles can act as a catalyst in the reductive degradation reaction of an anthropogenic dye (methylene blue) in the presence of sodium borohydride. The synthesized nanoparticles were highly active against methylene blue and degraded the dye within a few minutes. Thus, this work represents a very stable and efficient system for dye-containing wastewater treatment.