PURIFICATION OF SIMULATED FLUORIDE-CONTAMINATED WATER USING SILVER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED BY XANTHIUM STUMARIUM AS A BIO-TEMPLATE

A high concentration of fluoride in water can cause various problems for animals and plants. The aim of this research was to utilize nanotechnology for the treatment of fluoride-contaminated water. For this purpose silver nanoparticles (AgNP(Xs)) were synthesised using an aqueous extract of Xanthium stumariumas as both a reducing and a stabilizing agent. The synthesised AgNP(Xs) showed Surface Plasmon Resonance at lambda 427 nm. Electron microscopy confirmed the particles were evenly distributed rod shaped particles with a size of 28 nm. The infrared spectroscopy confirmed that reactive functional groups could be attached to the AgNP(Xs). Different concentrations of fluoride-contaminated water samples (simulated) were treated with AgNP(Xs), the adsorption of fluoride was measured through UV-Vis spectroscopy, and the fluoride concentration was measured with an selective ion electrode. The adsorption of fluoride ions on AgNP(Xs) was initially shown by finding a decrease in the absorbance reading of AgNP(Xs) at lambda=427 and later the results were confirmed by measuring the fluoride ions using an ion selective electrode. The maximum complexation of the fluoride ions with AgNP(Xs) was 53%. The efficiency of the treatment decreased when the fluoride concentration increased above 1.5 mu g mL(-1). These findings will help to lay a foundation for the development of clean methods of fluoride removal from water using nanotechnology