A Facile and Convenient Route for Synthesis of Silver Biopolymer Gel Bead Nanocomposites by Different Approach Towards Immobilization and Its Catalytic Applications

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles-calcium alginate beads (AgNP-CA) was prepared using five different methods. The immobilization/reduction/incorporation of AgNPs on alginate biopolymer using Walsura trifoliata bark extract as reducing and capping agent were confirmed by the characterization results of UV-Vis spectra, XRD, FTIR, and TEM techniques. The prepared Ag-CA nanocomposite catalyst was used for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in a liquid phase at ambient conditions. Comparatively, AgNPs-ACA (Adsorption calcium alginate) exhibited very high catalytic activity in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol within few seconds with exceptional stability, up to ten cycles without any loss in the catalytic activity. This study reports effective synthesis of AgNPs on alginate polymer beads via phytochemicals of aqueous extract of W. trifoliata and its excellent catalytic efficiency towards 4-nitrophenol reduction as of the practical application. [GRAPHICS] .