ABSTRACT
The present communication reports a rapid, uncomplicated, sustainable and facile method of eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The pressing need for the development of benign, profitable and eco-friendly alternative routes has inspired researchers to explore plant extracts as safer replacements to hazardous chemicals. In the present study, a benign method of synthesis of AgNPs using Soymida febrifuga aqueous root extract has been developed. The characterization studies of synthesized AgNPs revealed spherical morphology and crystalline nature of AgNPs. The average particle size was 21.81 nm. The synthesized AgNPs were employed as mercury nanosensor for the selective and sensitive detection of toxic mercury ions in water and soil samples. The AgNPs showed a marked visual color change and change in surface plasmon resonance band on interaction with mercury ions. The greater selectivity of AgNPs towards mercury ions was observed. The limit of detection of mercury by 100 μL of colloidal AgNPs was found to be 2×10-4 M visually and 1.332×10-5 M spectrophotometrically in water samples and 4×10-4 M visually and 22.3×10-5 M spectrophotometrically in soil samples. The method makes use of a small quantity of AgNPs for detection of mercury in water and soil samples. The method proposed in the present study provides a rapid, selective and sensitive method for detection of mercury ions in environmental water and soil samples. The synthesized AgNPs were also used as effective microbicidal agents. The microbicidal potential of the synthesized AgNPs was checked against two gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains.
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