Abstract
We report for the first time the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using West Indian cherry (Malpighia emarginata) extract known for its high vitamin C content. UV-visible spectroscopy, powder X ray diffraction (PXRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis were used to characterise silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles thus synthesised exhibit antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. The antimicrobial property of nanoparticles thus synthesised was applied in the production of silver-activated charcoal nanocomposite towards fabrication of antimicrobial water filtration columns. The microbial filtration efficiency of the nanocomposite was found to be higher compared to virgin activated charcoal even with reusage.