Microbial synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Bacillus sp.

A silver resistant Bacillus sp. was isolated through exposure of an aqueous AgNO3 solution to the atmosphere. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using these airborne bacteria (Bacillus sp.). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses confirmed that silver nanoparticles of 5-15 nm in size were deposited in the periplasmic space of the bacterial cells; a preferable cell surface location for the easy recovery of biogenic nanoparticles.