Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Mentha crispa L. leaf extract for treatment of dye wastewater

Mentha crispa L. is one of Vietnam’s most precious folk medicines and is also a spice used in many delicious dishes in Vietnam and around the world. The use of Mentha crispa L. leaf extract as a reducing agent for Ag+ ions to synthesize silver nanoparticles is discussed in this paper. Single silver nanospheres were dispersed in biological media and their sizes were controlled in the range of 20-80 nm. Factors affecting particle size and shape such as extract concentration, AgNO3 concentration, reaction time, and temperature were investigated to determine the optimal parameters for particle synthesis. The optical properties, dispersion, crystal structure, morphology, and sizes of silver nanoparticles were investigated through UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The functional groups on the L.AgNPs were determined by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) transmittance spectra. The synthesised silver nanoparticles were used to treat methylene blue (MB) dye, the main component of dye wastewater, based on their photocatalytic properties. The results show that in the presence of L.AgNPs, the photodegradation efficiency of NaBH4 or H2O2 reducing agents is much higher, up to 95% of illumination.