DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v28i3.224

Keywords: Dye degradation, floral waste, Kigelia africana, wastewater treatment, silver nanoparticles

Abstract

The present research developed a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to biosynthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the aqueous extract of waste Kigelia africana flowers. The floral waste extract served as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent and gave a green alternative to the traditional chemical synthesis pathways. AgNPs formation was established by UV spectroscopy and confirmed by an adsorption peak at 446nm. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of phytochemicals in stabilizing nanoparticles. The structure and morphology were also studied using SEM and EDX, which revealed the presence of well-dispersed, mostly spherical nanoparticles in the nanoscale range of 40-60nm. While XRD analysis determined the average crystalline size of 30.46nm. The photo-reactive activity of AgNPs produced by biosynthesis was analyzed about 84% degradation at 90-120 min of methyl orange dyes at 90- 120 min of irradiation with visible light. The AgNPs were found to be highly photocatalytic, with great dye removal in a relatively short time under the irradiation light and according to pseudo-first-order kinetics. The nanoparticles were also stable and reusable with several catalytic cycles. The given work shows a promising waste-to-wealth approach based on the use of flowed Kigelia africana flowers to produce useful nanomaterials by which sustainable wastewater treatment and environmental remediation could be achieved.