Abstract:
This study reports a green synthesis route for a bilayered Ag-MgO nanocomposite using aqueous peel extract of Citrus paradisi
(grapefruit red) under an accelerated uniform heating technique and its antibacterial potency against Escherichia coli. Surface
modifications and composition of the nanocomposite were examined using a UV-visible spectrophotometer, transmission
electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyzer. (e efficiencies of the as-synthesized Ag-MgO
nanocomposite against Escherichia coli were examined. (e synthesized Ag-MgO nanocomposite showed characteristic synergetic
bands at 290nm for MgO nanoparticle and at around 440nm for Ag nanoparticle which blue-shifted to 380nm in the
composite. A spherically dispersed nanocomposite with cubical crystal lattice network with a diameter of about 20–100nm
comprising Ag nanoparticle embedded within MgO nanoparticles was obtained. (e nanocomposite produced stronger antibacterial
activity against Escherichia coli as compared to MgO nanoparticle, indicating a higher interaction between Ag and MgO
ions. (e nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via an efficient modified method by bioreductive agents with an improved
synergistic antibacterial property towards water purification.