Silver Nano-Particles from Diesel Particulate Matter: An Environmental Pollutant to a Potential Antimicrobial Agent and a Photocatalyst

Abstract

The water soluble fraction (WSF) of diesel particulate matter (DPM), an environmental pollutant was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). FTIR, fluorescence and UV-Vis data suggest that water soluble oxygenated PAHs in the WSF of DPM are capped to the surface of AgNPs providing the stability. The particle size, the size distribution, and the crystalline nature were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The particles are spherical in shape having an average size of 7.7±1.5 nm. The antimicrobial activity of synthesized AgNPs was investigated using Agar well diffusion method and an enhanced activity was shown against the pathogens of Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus auerus. A high level of photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a common dye and a pesticide was exhibited by the AgNPs