Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using modified lignin as a reducing agent

The emergence and spread of microorganisms, posing a significant threat to public health globally, highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to combat pathogens. As a result, green synthesis has garnered increasing attention as an eco-friendly and effective approach to developing antimicrobial materials. This study explores the potential of aminated lignin as an alternative material for synthesizing silver nanoparticles, comparing its performance with commonly used kraft lignin. A one-pot green method was successfully employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles using both lignin types. By incorporating amine groups, lignin demonstrated heightened efficacy as a reducing agent, leading to a nearly fourfold increase in the concentration of silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticles obtained using aminated lignin displayed an average crystallite size of 50 nm and demonstrated a more uniform morphology, while those obtained using kraft lignin resulted in a smaller crystallite size of 30 nm but a broader nanoparticle size range. The concentration enhancement and improved morphology control underscore the significant impact of using aminated lignin as a reducing agent, emphasizing its potential in advanced materials synthesis. These results provide valuable insights into the utilization of amine-terminated lignin in nanoparticle synthesis and its potential in diverse applications.