Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles doped activated carbon for Rhodamine B dye adsorption

Abstract

Application of dye is one of the major industry with various application from everyday attire to food colouring. However, dye pollution is serious and threatening issue that need to be address to avoid harmful effect towards humans, animals and environments. In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesised via Clitoria Ternatea (CT) flower extract and doped with activated carbon (Ag NPs/AC) to act as adsorbent in removing rhodamine B dye (RB). CT Flower mediated green synthesis for Ag NPs provide safe, low cost and sustainable method compared to conventional chemical and physical synthesis. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to analyse the green synthesis for the formation of Ag NPs with peak absorbance at 400 nm. The effect of activated carbon (AC) mass loading, contact time and adsorbent dosage were analysed to study the adsorption capacity of Ag NPs/AC with viable condition of 0.75 g AC mass and 30 mg dosage with complete removal at 90 minutes. Hence, incorporation of Ag NPs with AC contributes to better adsorption properties for the removal of RB dye.