Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Low Molecular Weight Lignin Isolated from<em> Parthenium hysterophorus</em>

Synthesis of nanoparticles via green environmentally friendly approaches is gaining interest in their potential advantage over physico-chemical approaches. Herein, we explored the potential of lignin extracted from black liquor during isolation of cellulose from Parthenium Hysterophorus as a reducing and capping agent to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesis process was optimized by varying the reaction time, temperature, the concentration of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and LMwLg. The optimum parameters were 60°C, 140 mins, 0.1 M AgNO3, and 0.4% w/v LMwLg. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. From the results obtained, the AgNPs showed a SPR peak at 436 nm. The TEM showed that the nanoparticles were monodispersed and spherical with a mean size of 20.81 nm. From XRD results, AgNPs were of crystalline structure with an average particle size of 20.1 nm. The EDX analysis confirmed that the nanoparticles were majorly composed of silver. These findings highlight the potential of LMwLg as a green reducing and capping agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, offering a promising alternative to conventional chemical synthesis methods for silver synthesis.