Abstract
In this study, Activated carbon/Silver/Titanium dioxide nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method using jasmine flower extract. The reactions of reduction, stabilization and capping were executed from the biomolecules of jasmine flower extract. The decoration of activated carbon and noble metal to the metal oxide enhanced the properties in all ways. As the modified structural, optical and morphological properties of as-prepared nanocomposite were characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). The photocatalytic activities under sunlight were evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB). Antibacterial activity was tested against E. coli and S. aureus. The characterization results show that the Activated carbon/Silver/Titanium dioxide nanocomposite is crystalline, needle like morphology and highly optically active catalyst. The investigated Activated carbon/Silver/Titanium dioxide nanocomposite shows 96% maximum degradation efficiency at the end of 120 min under visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiency and antibacterial activity are readily higher than that of commercial TiO2. The plasmonic support to the activated carbon and titanium nanoparticles creates a large surface area, active sites and accelerated the free radical generation. These characteristics demonstrated that the prepared Activated carbon/Silver/Titanium dioxide nanocomposite material is highly suitable for the decomposition of methylene blue and wastewater treatment.