Journal of Nanosciences: Current Research

Efficient Removal of Toxic Textile Dyes using Silver Nanocomposites

Abstract

Khatoon N and Sardar M

In the present study biomimetic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Solanum nigrum and Cannabis sativa were explored. The biosynthesized silver nanocomposites were characterized using UV-VIS spectroscopy, DLS, TEM, FTIR and XRD. The characteristic surface plasmon resonance of Solanum nigrum and Cannabis sativa were recorded at 430 and 445 nm respectively. The average diameter of silver nanocomposites were 34.13 ± 3.10 and 70.93 ± 3.57 nm for Solanum nigrum and Cannabis sativa leaf extract respectively. The release of textile dyes into our surrounding water bodies has toxic effect on human health and marine life therefore removal of these dyes is necessary to protect environment. The nanotechnology has provided a new platform for waste water treatment. Hence the biosynthesized nanocomposites were employed for dye removal from wastewater. The effects of various parameters, such as time of incubation, concentration, pH, and temperature, were studied. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles are most effective in dye removal at alkaline pH 9 and at 60ºC. The textile industry effluents have high pH and temperature which makes these nanoparticles more appropriate in treatment of these industry effluents. To elucidate the reusability, the decolorizing efficiency of biosynthesized silver nanocomposites were investigated upto 3 cycles.