Pages: (39-46 )
Abstract
This work reports the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using coconut husk extract and the evaluation of its antibacterial activity. Antibacterial activity of the biosynthesized AgNPs was evaluated against some selected pathogenic microorganisms. The biosynthesised AgNPs were characterised using UV-Visible, Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscope (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscope (EDX) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). The absorption spectrum of the synthesized AgNPs showed a maximum spectrum of 448 nm while FTIR analysis showed different functional groups present on the surface of the AgNPs with broad peak between 839 and 3454 cm−1. The FESEM showed a large number of spherically shaped nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 12.96 to 97.04 nm. The coconut husk extract possess biomolecules which aided the bioreduction, formation and stabilization of the AgNPs, which in turn inhibited distinctly the growth of the selected microorganisms with zones ranging from 9-13 mm. This study
showed that coconut husk can be used for the synthesis of AgNPs possessing high antibacterial properties.
Keywords: Coconut husk; antibacterial; silver nanoparticles; green synthesis,