Decolourisation efficiency of immobilized silica nanoparticles synthesized by actinomycetes

Abstract The present study investigates the adsorption and decolourisation efficacy of silica nanoparticles in textile effluent treatment. Silica nanoparticles synthesis was mediated by the indigenous actinomycetes species isolated from the effluent contaminated site using magnesium trisilicate hydrate as a substrate of silica. The presence of functional groups and morphological features of silica nanoparticles were confirmed by characterization techniques. The synthesized nanoparticles were further evaluated by encapsulating methods to study their viability and stability for treating effluents. The solids and toxic compounds concentrations were decreased in the effluents due to the immobilized silica nanoparticles treatment. The studies revealed 80% decolourisation efficiency for encapsulated native silica nanoparticles. Thus the present study suggests the use of immobilized silica nanoparticles in the form of encapsulation as a suitable technique to decolourise textile effluent by its adsorbent and decolourisation properties.