GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR CATALYTIC ACTIVITY

Green chemistry is at the frontiers of chemistry, focussing on the design of products and processes that minimize the use and generation of toxic and hazardous substances. For a tremendous future of nanotechnology, green synthetic strategy should be adopted for nanoparticles synthesis using environmentally benign and renewable molecules to get rid of hazards arising out of the use of chemical reducing agents and organic solvents. The present study discusses the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using a greener mode, microwave irradiated techniques from biopolymers like agar, starch and extracts of leaves of neem and moringa. The catalytic competence of the synthesised nanoparticles was investigated for the degradation of Naphthol Green B by NaBH4. The catalyst exhibits a remarkable catalytic activity for this reaction. This green approach for nanoparticles synthesis has several promising attractions and can be used for the large scale production of silver nanoparticle which find application as nanocatalysts.