Clean green synthesis of silver nanoparticles with shape/size control using aquatic weed Pistia stratiotes and their antioxidant, antibacterial and catalytic activity

Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University,

Puducherry-605 014, India

E-mail : tasneem.abbasi@gmail.com

Manuscript received 20 June 2017, revised 19 July 2017, accepted 17 November 2017

The paper presents studies towards development of simple, one-pot, yet rapid processes of generating silver nanoparticles of desired shapes/sizes utilizing the highly invasive aquatic weed, Pistia stratiotes. In an attempt to utilize the entire plant, the extracts of all its parts – aerial as well as submerged parts – were employed with the silver precursor, AgNO₃ solution, for the synthesis. The formation of AgNPs and their characteristics were studied using UV-Vis spectroscopy, electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was seen that by varying Ag-extract stoi-chiometry, pH and temperature AgNPs of different shapes and sizes can be reproductively generated. The synthesized AgNPs displayed marked antimicrobial, catalytic and free radical scavenging ability.