Novel Biogenic Synthesis of a Ag@Biochar Nanocomposite as an Antimicrobial Agent and Photocatalyst for Methylene Blue Degradation

Abstract

The conventional synthesis of nanomaterials employing physical and chemical methods usually requires high cost and toxic chemicals. Thus, a facile, ecofriendly, cost-effective, novel, and sustainable route for the synthesis of a silver-loaded biochar nanocomposite (Ag@biochar) using Chenopodium ambrosioides leaf extract and biomass is reported for the first time in this study to advocate many of the principles of green chemistry such as safer solvents and auxiliaries. UV spectroscopic analysis at 420 nm indicated the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The band gap energy of Ag@biochar was 1.9 eV, confirming its potential use as a photocatalyst. Ag@biochar was found to be photoluminescent at 425 nm. AgNPs on the surface of biochar were predominantly spherical with a size range of 25–35 nm and a surface area of 47.61 m2/g. A zeta potential of −5.87 mV designated the stability of Ag@biochar. Testing the photocatalytic potential of Ag@biochar to remove methylene blue from wastewater demonstrated its high removal efficiency that reached 88.4% due to its high efficiency of electron transfer confirmed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis and retained 70.65% after six cycles of reuse. Ag@biochar was shown to be a powerful broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent as it completely prevented the growth of Escherichia coli and also inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans with the inhibition zones of 19, 18, 22, and 16 mm, respectively.

Sulfonated graphene oxide impregnated cellulose acetate floated beads for adsorption of methylene blue dye: optimization using response surface methodology

“…Therefore, revelation to MB can lead to breathing difficulties, eyes burn, vomiting, nausea, and mental bewilderment 9 . Various techniques have been employed for dyes remediation from contaminated water such as advanced oxidation, membrane filtration, photocatalytic degradation, and adsorption 10 – 14 . Adsorption is recognized one of the most promising treatment technologies for the removal of various harmful contaminants from wastewater owing to its excellent features comprising higher efficacy, low-cost production and simple processing 4 , 15 – 17 .…”

Insights into the Photocatalytic Memory Effect of Magneto-Plasmonic Ag–Fe3O4@TiO2 Ternary Nanocomposites for Dye Degradation and H2 Production under Light and Dark Conditions

“…The crystal structures of Fe 3 O 4 and Ag are found to be inverse cubic spinel and cubic, respectively. The dominance of Ag peaks indicates the rich crystalline properties and rich availability of Ag particles on the composite’s surface, which also reveals that Ag is not occupied in the lattices of TiO 2 as silver ions . JCPDS data generally represent the defect-free bulk structures of the materials.…”

“…The dominance of Ag peaks indicates the rich crystalline properties and rich availability of Ag particles on the composite's surface, which also reveals that Ag is not occupied in the lattices of TiO 2 as silver ions. 21 JCPDS data generally represent the defect-free bulk structures of the materials. In contrast, the observed slight shift in the XRD pattern of TiO 2 in all the synthesized systems (i.e., bare-TiO 2 and other composites) with respect to the JCPDS data of TiO 2 (Figure 1(b)) could be assigned to the defective structure of TiO 2 particles.…”

Biological synthesis of hybrid silver nanoparticles by Periploca aphylla Dcne. From nanotechnology to biotechnology applications

“…Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have sparked international interest due to their exceptional physiological features, including a better anti-microbial capacity. For example, a simple and green synthesis approach for phytofabrication Zinc oxide-silver supported biochar nanocomposite (Ag/ZnO@BC) using Persicaria salicifolia biomass has been studied for the first time to support multiple green chemistry such as less harmful chemical syntheses ( Eltaweil et al, 2022 ; Hosny et al, 2022 ). Furthermore, AgNPs have been frequently used in plant cell cultures to impact plant cell proliferation, biomass production, and the formation of bioactive secondary metabolites.…”