1*Department of Botany, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. E.mail: kassurya@gmail.com
2Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. E.mail: jegatheesank@gmail.com
Green technology is the new approach for the synthesis of Silver nanoparticles, and this technique is cost-effective and eco-friendly. In this study, Portulaca grandiflora leaf extract was used for the green synthesis of Silver nanoparticles. This aqueous leaf extract acts as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Green synthesized Silver nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Also, this method evaluates their efficacy in the degradation of methylene blue. The synthesized nanoparticles were visually confirmed by the formation of a brown-colored solution. An absorption peak at 434 nm confirmed the formation of Silver nanoparticles. This peak corresponds to a band gap of 2.86 eV. FTIR analysis revealed that phytochemicals like phenols and flavonoids present in the plant extract served as capping agents. The crystalline structure of the Silver nanoparticle was confirmed by XRD analysis. The average size of the particle was approximately 13.4 nm and had a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure. The elements present in the sample were examined by EDAX. The SEM analysis confirmed a spherical morphology, which confirms the presence of metallic Silver. Application studies indicated that the AgNPs effectively degraded the methylene blue dye at room temperature within 24 hours. GC-MS analysis was performed to confirm the degradation process. The result showed the degradation of complex aromatic structures and the formation of new compounds. The present study reveals that the biosynthesized Silver nanoparticles showed high photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of methylene blue dye.
Keywords: Silver nanoparticles, Portulaca grandiflora, Photocatalysis, Methylene blue, Green synthesis, Dye degradation
How to cite this article: Kasthuri T, Jegatheesan K. Plant Mediated Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Application in the Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(10s): 387-397; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.10s.50.
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None