Chlorella vulgaris-Mediated Nanosilver Synthesis with Chitosan Capping Agent

Nanoparticles are widely used for their simplicity, nontoxic, low-production cost, pollutants free, and eco-friendly process. Green synthesis of nanosilver using microalgae is an environmentally benign and emerging technique. The current study aims to synthesize the nanosilver with a chitosan capping agent of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. The algal C.vulgaris extract was prepared with a variation of 3.0 g/L, 5.0 g/L, and 6.0 g/L. As a comparison, we use nanosilver synthesis using NaBH4. Extract algal treated with silver nitrate solution to synthesize nanosilver with a chitosan capping agent. Biosynthesized nanosilver was characterized with UV-Visual spectroscopy, particle size analyzer (PSA) analyzer, SEM, and EDS. Results show that nanosilver is successfully synthesized with UV-Visual Spectroscopy results at a wavelength of 400 nm. EDS analysis indicates the presence of silver metal on synthesis results at 3 kV. The PSA confirms that nanosilver produced by adding C.vulgaris of 3.0, 5.0, and 6.0 g/L results in particle size distribution from 57.8 nm – 462 nm, 17.2 nm – 97.2 nm, and 28.9 nm – 81.8 nm, respectively. It is higher when compared with synthesis nanosilver using NaBH, resulting in particle size distribution from 2.26 nm to 171.9 nm. It is confirmed that adding C.vulgaris of 5.0 and 6.0 g/L has successfully made a nanosilver.