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Biogenic silver nanoparticles on carbonaceous material from sewage sludge for degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution

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Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized in situ, using a one-step green methodology with Camellia sinensis (green tea) aqueous extract as reducing agent, and supported on a carbonaceous material (Ag-CM), originated from the pyrolysis of sewage sludge. UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller were used to characterize the nanocomposite. Ag-CM composite exhibited very good catalytic activity in the degradation process of methylene blue (MB) dye in aqueous solution without using sunlight or UV radiation. Batch kinetic and isothermal experiments, using 30 mg/L MB solution, showed that Ag-CM composite removed near to 91 % of MB in 9 h, whereas the carbonaceous material alone removed only 60 % in 30 h. Experimental data were adjusted to different kinetic and isotherms models, where both materials fit the second-order and Langmuir–Freundlich models, respectively; therefore, a chemisorption mechanism probably occurs in these heterogeneous materials.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to UAEM for financial support. We also thank F. Ruiz, Eric Flores and I. Gradilla from CNyN-UNAM for technical support in TEM, BET and SEM/EDS, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Paseo Colón y Paseo Tollocan s/n., 50120, Toluca, Mexico

    J. Trujillo-Reyes, J. A. Colín-Molina & V. Sánchez-Mendieta

  2. Centro Conjunto de Investigación en Química Sustentable, UAEM-UNAM, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco Km 14.5, San Cayetano, Piedras Blancas, 50200, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico

    A.-R. Vilchis-Nestor

  3. Centro de Nanociencia y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, AP. 2681, 22800, Ensenada, BC, Mexico

    A.-R. Vilchis-Nestor & M. Avalos-Borja

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  1. A.-R. Vilchis-Nestor
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  2. J. Trujillo-Reyes
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  3. J. A. Colín-Molina
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  5. M. Avalos-Borja
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Correspondence to J. Trujillo-Reyes.

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Miguel Avalos-Borja is on leave at IPICyT, Division de Materiales Avanzados, San Luis Potosi, S.L.P., 78216, Mexico. e-mail: miguel.avalos@ipicyt.edu.mx

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Vilchis-Nestor, AR., Trujillo-Reyes, J., Colín-Molina, J.A. et al. Biogenic silver nanoparticles on carbonaceous material from sewage sludge for degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 11, 977–986 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0309-x

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