Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles with green tea extract from silver recycling of radiographic films

Today, the use of plant extracts for the synthesis of nanomaterials is of great interest. In this research, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles has been done using green tea extract. For this, at first, silver nitrate was obtained by recycling the silver present in radiographic films through dissolution in nitric acid. Then, with green tea extract, silver nitrate was converted into silver nanoparticles. Different analyses investigated the product of each step. According to the results, silver was successfully recovered through dissolution in nitric acid. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of pure silver crystals. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) analysis showed quasi-spherical particles with an average size of 50 nm, also confirmed by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis. Evaluation of the antibacterial property of silver nanoparticles against two indicator bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, proved that green tea extract improved the performance of nanoparticles. •Recovery of silver from waste radiographic films.•Conversion of recovered silver from radiographic films to nanoparticles by green synthesis method.•Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles with green tea extract and its characterization.