Radiation-induced synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) using chitosan (CTS) as a stabiliser and free radical scavenger is feasible and satisfiable to green method. The conversion dose (Ag þ into Ag 0) was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy and Ag-NPs size was characterised by transmission electron microscopy. The average diameter of Ag-NPs was smaller than 10 nm with narrow size distribution and the colloidal Ag-NPs have good stability for a long time of storage. The effect of several parameters, such as pH, Ag þ and CTS concentration and molecular weight of CTS on Ag-NPs size was also investigated. Ag-NPs of $7 nm exhibited highly antimicrobial effect. The inhibitory efficiency of Ag-NPs for Staphylococcus aureus was more than 99.9% at 5 ppm and the effective dose (ED 50) of inhibition for Corticium salmonicolor was of 27.2 ppm.
Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles in zeolite A were synthesized by two steps: (i) ion-exchange of copper ions into the zeolite and (ii) reduction of copper ions in cages of the zeolite by hydrazine hydrate in base medium. The Cu2O nanoparticles/zeolite product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The particle size of Cu2O nanoparticles was of 40 nm. The antibacterial activity of the as-synthesized Cu2O nanoparticles/zeolite against Escherichia coli was also investigated. Cu2O NPs/zeolite product can be favorably produced on large scale for water treatment and agricultural application as antimicrobial agent.
Colloidal silver nanoparticles were prepared by -irradiating Ag þ in aqueous solution in the presence of 2% polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilising agent and ethyl alcohol as free radical (OH . ) scavenger. The saturated conversion dose of Ag þ into Ag was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the silver nanoparticles size was characterised by transmission electron microscopy. The influence of Ag þ concentration (1-50 mM) on the saturated conversion dose and average diameter of silver nanoparticles was investigated. Results showed that the saturated conversion dose was from 8 to 48 kGy and the silver particles size was in the range of 6-21 nm for Ag þ concentration from 1 to 50 mM. The effect of PVP molecular weight on silver particles size was studied as well.
Oligochitosan (OC) is effective biostimulant on growth promotion and elicitation against disease infection for plants. However, the range of OC molecular weight that exhibits the most effective activity is not fully understood and requires further investigation. In this study, OCs with different weight average molecular weight (Mw) were prepared by gamma Co-60 irradiation degradation of chitosan in solution and the effect on growth promotion and enhancement of fruit yield of chili plant (Capsicum frutescens L.) by foliar application of OCs particularly with Mw of 7.8, 5.0, and 2.5 kDa was investigated. Chili plants, cultivated in a greenhouse were sprayed with OC concentration of 50 mg/L for three times. Results indicated that among treatments, OC with 2.5 kDa proved to be the best, which increased the shoot fresh weight by 71.5%, shoot dry weight by 184%, total chlorophyll content by 12%, and fruit fresh weight by 49.8% for the control. Thus, OC with low Mw (2.5 kDa) that can be suitably produced on large scale by gamma Co-60 ray irradiation degradation of chitosan solution is potentially promising to apply as a biostimulant to enhance chili fruit yield significantly.
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