Nanosilver Immobilized in Carbonaceous Particles Derived from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Eleusine indica Leaf Extract

Abstract

In this study, for the first time, hydrothermal treatment of Eleusine indica leaf extract and silver nitrate produced nanosilver immobilized in hydrothermal carbon synthesized at different reaction times (RT) - 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. The surface morphology of nanosilver hydrochar (AgNP@hydrochar) composites was studied using SEM, while their chemical functionalities were investigated using FT-IR, UV-Vis, XRF and EDX spectroscopy. The AgNP@hydrochar were observed to be agglomerated spherical particles with size ranges from 128 to 171 nm. Varying C=O and C=C IR absorption peaks at different RT suggested that the plant extract reduced Ag+ into Ag0 in solution. Elemental analysis using EDX showed that Ag is dominant in the composite (84.07 %) supported by the Ag spatial distribution as demonstrated by the EDX elemental mapping.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 For the first time, hydrothermal treatment of Eleusine indica leaf extract with silver nitrate resulted in nanosilver trapped in hydrothermal carbon
 HTC process of E. indica extract produced composite having agglomerated spherical particles
 EDX elemental mapping showed an abundant silver in the synthesized composite
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT