Catalytic and antibacterial activity of microwave-assisted synthesis of silver nanoparticles using punica granatum peel extract

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has drawn attention over the past few years owing to their physico-chemical and optical properties. In the present investigation, synthesis of AgNPs using Punicagranatum(PG) peel extract was mediated using microwave irradiation. The duration of microwave irradiation and the concentration of AgNO3 and PG peel extract wereoptimized for the better yeild of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by routine analytical techniques like UV- Visible, FTIR, DLS XRD and TEM. Under optimal synthetic conditions, the Zeta potential, average diameter and polydispersity index of AgNPs synthesized were-30.5 mV, 10±2nm and 0.224 respectively. Phytochemicals present in the extract help to reduce silver salt to metallic silver and act as a stabilizer in the synthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs are not only showed good catalytic activity in the reductions of p- nitrophenol, methylene blue and congo red, but also showed antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.