Reductive photocatalytic degradation of toxic aniline blue dye using green synthesized banyan aerial root extract derived silver nanoparticles

Abstract Herein we are reporting the reductive degradation of aniline blue dye using banyan aerial root extract derived silver nanoparticles (B-AgNPs) as catalyst. We have synthesized B-AgNPs by green root method. The characterization of synthesized B-AgNPs was done using HR-TEM, UV-vis spectral, Total Organic Carbon, FT-IR and XRD techniques. The SPR band was obtained around 445 nm. Crystal structure of B-AgNPs was observed using XRD pattern. The stability of 25.6 nm sized B-AgNPs was found to be beyond four months. Finally, the synthesized B-AgNPs was applied as a photocatalytic degradation catalyst of aniline blue dye with NaBH4 as a reducing agent. The catalytic activity was systematically monitored using UV-Visible spectrophotometry. The catalytic efficiency was calculated to be 91.76%. Moreover, the synthesized B-AgNPs were used as a catalyst for the efficient degradation of dye effluent in the dye industry. We have applied the synthesized B-AgNPs as a catalyst for the effective degradation of industrial dye wastewater. Moreover, we have proposed the possible degradation mechanism.