The effect of culture age and initial silver concentration on biosynthesis of Ag nanoparticles

Abstract

Many organisms or their extracts have the ability to reduce Ag+ ions to Ag0 and stabilize them what results in nanoparticle formation in solution. The aim of the article was to study the influence of two selected parameters - initial silver concentration and culture age, on Ag nanoparticles production by green algae Parachlorella kessleri. The presence of Ag nanoparticles in the solution was confirmed by the UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM analyses. Typical curve with the peak at app. 420 nm was found for nanoparticles produced by algae. While culture age did not have any significant effect, the initial silver concentration had significant influence on nanoparticle production which influenced the rate of nanoparticle production, their amount, their size and stability, as well.