Synthesis and investigation on synergetic effect of activated carbon loaded silver nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activity

Abstract

In this study, we used a cashew nut shell to successfully manufacture silver nanoparticle-loaded cashew nut shell activated carbon (Ag/CNSAC). XRD, XPS, SEM with EDS, FT-IR, and BET analysis are used to characterize the products' structural and chemical contents. The XRD, XPS, and EDS data provided convincing proof that Ag loaded on CNSAC formed. The energy dispersive spectrum analysis and X-ray diffraction pattern both supported the face-centered cubic and amorphous structures of Ag/CNSAC. The SEM micrographs showed inner surface development of Ag NPs and many tiny pores in CNSAC. The photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye by the Ag/CNSAC photocatalyst was investigated. This effective degradation of MB dye by Ag/CNSAC is attributed to the cooperative action of Ag as a photocatalyst and CNSAC as a catalytic support and adsorbent. In tests with gram-positive and negative bacteria including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus (S. aureus), the as-product Ag/CNSAC showed outstanding antibacterial efficacy. Additionally, this study demonstrates a workable procedure for creating an affordable and efficient Ag/CNSAC for the photocatalytic eradication of organic contaminants.