Agro-Industrial Waste-Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Its Antibacterial Activity

The development of immaculate etiquette for the green and rapid synthesis of Ag NPs with a natural reducing agent is the spearhead of the expanding field of nanotechnology. Different scientific fraternity with novel natural reducing agents has been contributing numerous strategies daily. Though there is a submerging of many natural reducing agents, still there are plenty of natural precursors remained to be explored. In this research, we fruitfully attempted the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using agro-food industrial waste Tamarindus indica shell-husk extract (TSE) as a natural reducing agent. The prepared silver nanoparticles and their stability in different pH were investigated using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic analysis. Morphological characters were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The structural and elemental compositions were depicted by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, respectively. Moreover, we emphasized on the molecular mechanism involving in the TSE mediated synthesis of Ag NPs. The inherent antimicrobial activity was investigated using agar plate method against both gram-positive and gram-negative species with gentamycin as a control standard for comparison

Fabrication of N-Doped Graphene@TiO2 Nanocomposites for Its Adsorption and Absorbing Performance with Facile Recycling

The present work aims to synthesize nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide-titanium dioxide nanocomposite (N-rGO@TiO2) using a simple, eco-friendly method and its applications in spectroscopic detection of heavy metal ions such as lead (Pb2+), mercury (Hg2+), and chromium-VI [Cr(VI)] in potable water. Initially, TiO2 nanoparticles loaded N doped rGO sheets were fabricated by an ecological method using Gossypium hirsutum (cotton) seeds extract as a green reducing agent. Then, the N-rGO@TiO2 nanocomposites were subjected for characterizations such as spectroscopic techniques, particle size analysis, zeta potential analysis, and spectroscopic sensing. Notably, the results of this study confirmed that N-rGO@TiO2 exhibited countless stupendous features in terms of sensing of an analyte. Briefly, the UV-visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the successful synthesis of N-rGO@TiO2. The SEM images showed the wrinkled, folded, and cross-linked network structures that confirmed the surface modification and nitrogen doping in the rGO sheet and synthesis of N-rGO@TiO2. The EDAX study confirmed the elemental composition of the N-rGO@TiO2 nanocomposite. Finally, due to the larger surface area, porous nature, high electron mobility, etc. the N-rGO@TiO2 probe provides the lower detection limit for Pb2+, Hg2+, and Cr (VI) as low as 50 nM, 15 μM, and 25 nM, respectively. Concisely, our study affirms the admirable sensitivity of N-rGO@TiO2 nanocomposite to the Pb2+, Hg2+, and Cr (VI) in potable water can provide better environmental remediation