Peanut shell-anchored silver nanoparticles; Green synthesis, and catalytic applications

An encouragingly heterogeneous catalyst based on agricultural waste was developed here. Silver nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto peanut shells in a one-step reaction without the need for complexing and/or reducing agents. The composition and structure of the proposed catalyst were analyzed in detail, demonstrating tight binding of silver nanoparticles to the hydroxyl and/or the carbonyl groups in the peanut shell. The particle size of Ag nanoparticles ranges from 5 to 40 nm. The Ag@peanut shell nanocomposite showed efficient catalytic performance in the degradation of organic pollutants (4-nitrophenol, methylene blue, and mixture of both). The porous nature of the peanut shell surface provides good accessibility of organic pollutants to the surface of proposed catalyst. Under optimal conditions (catalyst dose = 0.2 g, [4-NP] = 0.075 mM, and pH = 10), a rate constant of 9.84 × 10^− 3 sec^− 1 was achieved. The catalyst showed significant reusability over five consecutive cycles. The conversion efficiency decreased 100% to 87%, while catalytic activity decreased from 100% to 85%. The porous structure of the peanut shell ensures excellent pollutant accessibility to the catalytic sites, highlighting the potential of agricultural waste as a valuable resource for advanced materials.