Green Synthesis, Optimization, and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Ficus sycomorus Bark Extract for Efficient Tanning Effluent Treatment

The leather industry is a primary global source of chromium‐laden wastewater, discharging effluents with chemical oxygen demand levels exceeding 2000 mg/L, driving the need for efficient treatment technologies. While numerous studies have reported plant‐mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), most focus primarily on nanoparticle synthesis and/or characterization, leaving a significant gap in evaluating treatment efficiency limits within complex wastewater matrices. This study addresses this oversight through the dual optimization of nanoparticle synthesis and effluent treatment performance using Ficus sycomorus bark extract. Accordingly, a AgNO 3 concentration of 1.94 mM, a plant extract volume of 9.6 mL, and a reaction time of 43 min were found to reveal an optimum SPR peak of 1.94. The optimized AgNPs were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, Zeta Potential analyzer, SEM, and XRD analyses. The characterization of the synthesized AgNPs has revealed spherical morphology, with an average particle size of 11.11 nm. The optimized AgNPs were applied to treat tanning effluent, achieving up to 92.4% reduction in total chromium and 78.43% reduction in COD under optimal conditions of 14.8‐mg AgNPs dosage, pH 4.6, and 3‐h treatment time, as determined by physicochemical characterization. Consequently, most regulated pollutants were brought within permissible EPA limits, demonstrating that green‐synthesized AgNPs offer a high‐performance alternative for tannery wastewater purification.