Abstract
Nanoparticles synthesised using natural resources is a cost-effective and ecofriendly technique with a number of advantages. In current work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized using the extract of Fragaria ananassa seeds. The extract was used as a source of phytochemicals that can act as reducing and stabilizing agents. The characteristics of AgNPs were determined by UV/Visible, FTIR, SEM, XRD and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The appearance of the distinctive absorption peak in UV-visible spectra at 430 nm confirmed the formation of AgNPs. The involvement of different bioactive functional groups with AgNPs was authenticated by FTIR studies. Particle size and morphology was confirmed by DLS, SEM and XRD analysis. The catalytic potential of AgNPs for the removal of poisonous organic dyes, brilliant green (BG) and methyl orange (MO) was also tested. Effect of different parameters including the catalyst concentration, dyes concentration and presence of different salts on the degradation of dyes was investigated. Nano-size and well-distributed nature of AgNPs, BG and MO dyes were degraded rapidly individually as well as simultaneously. The degradation process obeyed pseudo first order kinetics. Authors concluded that AgNPs synthesized using environment friendly and cost-effective method, can be used as a new tool to combat pollution caused by carcinogenic organic dyes.