Optical and colorimetric sensing of toxic mercury ion using green synthesized silver nanoparticles

ABSTRACT. In ancient, human used silver and silver salts but silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently been found to be accepted as the result of green synthesis. Now a day, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have become extremely popular in the field of the sensor due to their remarkable and significant optical, chemical, and electrical properties. In this paper, we have reported the green and reasonably priced synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Acacia confusa leaf extract which acts as both capping as well as reducing agents. The optical sensing and morphology of the as prepared AgNPs were determined using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Visible) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The sensing of Hg2+ ion through colorimetric and optical have been studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy as well as the naked eye. Moreover, the SEM analysis showed that the volume of the extract had no considerable effect on the morphology except for size. The colorimetric and optical sensing study revealed that the as-synthesized AgNPs exhibited a good response with colorimetric and optical sensing activity specifically towards the toxic Hg2+ ion.                                                                                                             KEY WORDS: Green synthesis, AgNPs, Optical sensor, Ultrasonic method   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(5), 1287-1298.                                                           DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i5.19