Microwave green synthesis of biopolymer-stabilized silver nanoparticles and their adsorption behavior for atrazine

Abstract

The application of silver nanoparticles for the removal of atrazine has been investigated. The silver nanoparticles beads were used as an adsorbent in the present study. Silver nanoparticles were prepared in the laboratory by a microwave irradiation method. The effect of initial concentration on the removal of atrazine was studied by varying the initial concentration of atrazine from 5 to 30 ppm. It was found that the percent removal of atrazine decreases on increasing the initial atrazine concentrations. A contact time of 14 h was found to be sufficient for maximum removal and was recorded as the equilibration time. The pH 6.0 ± 0.6 for atrazine was found most favorable and at this pH the percentage removal is high at room temperature (27 °C). Batch experiments demonstrated that a 2 gm adsorbent dosage is capable of removing maximum amount of atrazine from aqueous solution. Resulting data at room temperature were analyzed by the Freundlich and Langmuir models using linearized equations. Resultant data were analyzed by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order rate equations. Desorption studies were made to elucidate recovery of the adsorbate and adsorbent for the economic competitiveness of the removal system. Findings of the present study revealed that silver nanoparticles beads can be an effective adsorbent for the removal of atrazine from aqueous solution.