E. coli-Assisted Eco-Friendly Production of Biogenic Silver Cobalt Oxide (AgCoO2) Nanoparticles: Methanolysis-Based Hydrogen Production, Wastewater Remediation, and Pathogen Control.

Abstract

Herein, bacterial-assisted synthesis of AgCoO₂ is carried out. In the first step, E. coli was separated from soil samples via the "serial dilution method." Ten milliliters of bacterial supernatant was mixed with cobalt chloride and silver nitrate hatched at 38°C for 24 h to get AgCoO₂ nanoparticles (NPs). XRD results confirm the synthesis of AgCoO₂ NPs while EDX results confirm the absence of any other elements than Ag, Co, and O. An average NP size of 12-26 nm was determined by TEM examination, and the surface of the particles was seen rough, irregularly shaped borders. The antibacterial activity of the constructed NPs was checked against S. aureus, E. coli, Bacillus subtilus, and Pseudomanas areguinosa using agar well diffusion method. The maximum zone of inhibition was 27 mm at 40 mg/mL against Bacillus subtilus. The performance of the synthesized NPs as photocatalysts was also assessed, and several operational parameters that control the photodegradation of the harmful dyes were tried to tune as well, and 85% degrading efficiency was obtained at 60^oC for 240 min for 30 mg of catalyst dose These NPs were also used to produce hydrogen by methanolysis.