Stable silver nanoparticles synthesis using Tabebuia aurea leaf extract for efficient water treatment: A sustainable approach to environmental remediation

Noble metal nanoparticles have garnered significant attention owing to their extensive utility across various domains. Among them, silver nanoparticles (SNP) deliver solutions to various environmental problems in the area of water treatment. SNP are conventionally fabricated using chemical methods with toxic chemicals. In this work, we used leaf extract of Tabebuia aurea to rapidly synthesize stable silver nanoparticles (TA-SNP). The analysis of the UV–vis spectrum revealed surface plasmon resonance at 438 nm which confirmed the formation of SNP. The SEM image showed the nanosized and spherical morphology of the TA-SNP with a mean size of 48.68 nm. XRD pattern of nanoparticles pertaining to (101) plane, ascertained the fcc crystal arrangement with 19.36 nm as crystallite diameter. DLS confirmed the colloidal stability with a zeta potential of −26.7 mV. The FTIR studies suggest that the presence of various functional moieties of the leaf extract is accountable for the formation and capping of nanoparticle synthesis. The efficiency of TA-SNP as a potential catalyst in the reduction of the Congo Red and Acid Blue 113 dye with NaBH₄ was demonstrated with first-order kinetic constants of 0.2723 and 0.1335 min ^–1 respectively. Hence, the environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthesis method used for SNP in the present study holds promise for developing nanocatalysts aimed at effectively removing diverse dyes from wastewater, thereby contributing to environmental remediation.