Green synthesized AgNPs entrapped in polymer hydrogels for azo dye degradation

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 35; no. 19; p. 1368
• Main Authors: Dhavade, Aparna K., Hinge, Sarika, Sabharwal, Sushma G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-07-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic animals; Aquatic plants; Aromatic compounds; Azo dyes; Biocompatibility; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chitosan; Cytotoxicity; Degradation; Dyes; Effluents; Industrial effluents; Industrial wastes; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Optical and Electronic Materials; Process parameters; Reducing agents; Silver; Spectrum analysis; Synthesis; Toxicity; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-024-13028-y

The tremendous use of dyes has been increased in various industries like food, paper, and textile because of that disposal of industrial waste into water bodies or in open environment is increased which indirectly affects the life of animals, plants, aquatic organisms, and human health. Therefore, dye degradation is one of the alternatives to mitigating this risk. In this study, green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were immobilized in starch–chitosan (SC) beads. Both starch and chitosan are biocompatible, and the hydrophilic nature of starch provides stability to AgNPs, enhancing the efficiency of dye degradation. These SC-AgNP beads were employed for the degradation of Azo dyes, viz. Congo Red, Acid Blue 161, Calmagite, and two other effluents from the paper and textile industries. The process parameters like temperature, dye concentration and AgNPs concentration, reducing agent concentration, etc.was optimized. The degradation of the dyes was quantitatively characterized by spectral analysis techniques viz. UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and LCMS. The results showed that the degradation efficacy of AgNPs was observed to be about 90% within 30 min on commercial azo dye and 15 min on industrial effluents. These beads were reused at least 11 times for commercial dyes and 16 times for industrial effluents. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of degraded products, and azo dyes were also studied. The cytotoxicity of degraded dyes was checked using HeLa cell lines, and cell viability in the presence of degraded dyes was observed at about 95%. The SC-AgNPs showed excellent potential to degrade aromatic rings possess azo dyes, and undergo waste water treatment.