Extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves mediated biosynthesis of catalytically active and recyclable silver nanoparticles

In the present study, catalytically active Ag nanoparticles were biosynthesized by the extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves through a facile and green manner. Well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles in spherical shape with size of 20-40 nm were obtained. Catalyzing the reduction of four typical pollutants, 4-nitrophenol, congo red, methyl orange, and rhodamine B, were achieved using the synthesized Ag nanoparticles, with the full conversion in 15-100 min. The pseudo-first order rate constant was calculated to be 0.0452 min(-1), 0.0568 min(-1), 0.0805 min(-1), and 0.285 min(-1) for 4-nitrophenol, congo red, methyl orange, and rhodamine B, respectively. Furthermore, the catalytic activity can be preserved for 5 successive cycles. Wide applications in selective reduction reactions for pollutants treatment and fine chemical synthesis can be expected using the obtained catalytically active and recyclable Ag nanoparticles.