Green synthesis and characterization of Ag and Ag/Fe3O4 nanocomposites for antimicrobial effect and rhodamine- B dye degradation

We used a simple two-stage tactic to design and synthesize a magnetically separable catalyst (MSC) Ag/Fe₃O₄ by combining independently synthesized Fe₃O₄ and Jatropha curcas root functionalized Ag nanoparticles (NPs) at room temperature. The phase composition of Ag/Fe₃O₄ NCs was revealed by morphological and structural assessment. The derived Ag/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites demonstrated outstanding antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa comparing to Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis which was determined by the agar well diffusion method. This is due to positively charged surface of metal oxide NPs that may bind to cell membrane. Interestingly, Ag–Fe₃O₄ NCs demonstrated good photocatalytic activity for organic dye degradation. According to a kinetic study, Ag/Fe₃O₄ MSC removed 99% of Rhodamine B at a rate constant of 1.89 min^?1. The photoelectron could perhaps ultimately collide only with dissolved solids in the substrate to form superoxides, which can damage the dye. Notably, the MSCs reusability was tested using magnetic detachment without sacrificing photocatalytic efficiency. This finding represents a significant breakthrough in the domain of wastewater treatment and biomedicine.