Removal of Contaminant in Electroplating Waste Water and Its Toxic Effect Using Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract The emergence of industries in developing countries is a rising challenge where the generation of undesirable liquid wastes containing pollutants are discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment. This research investigated the removal of contaminant in electroplating wastewater and its toxic effect using biosynthesized silver nanoparticles. Fresh leaves of Piliostigma thonningii were used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to characterize the produced Ag NPs. The electroplating wastewater was treated using green synthesized silver nanoparticle and subjected to physicochemical analysis using standard methods. The sub-chronic toxicity studies on the blood and liver tissues were carried out. At various conditions of concentration, temperature, pH and time, TEM showed the biosynthesized SNPs (1, 2, 3, and 4) to exhibit different particle size at 50 nm spherical shapes. FTIR revealed the presence of functional groups; -OH, -C = C, -C = O, -C-H and -NO. At different conditions, the SNPs demonstrated at the ability to remove pollutants in the electroplating wastewater with SNP4 displaying a higher affinity. In the toxicity evaluation of SNPs treated wastewater in rats, the heamatological parameters showed no significant influence on some parameters compared to the control group. However, the histopathological examination revealed toxic effects on the liver sections. It can be concluded that the biosynthesized Ag NPs contained functional groups that acts as stabilizing and reducing agent during the synthesis of Ag NPs had the ability to remove contaminant from electroplating wastewater.