Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Ipomoea batatas Leaves and Their Application In Dye Degradation

Water pollution by industrial dyes remains a serious environmental issue due to their toxicity, chemical stability and resistance to biodegradation. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized through a green approach using aqueous leaf extracts of Ipomoea batatas and evaluated for their catalytic activity in dye degradation. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids and saponins, which acted as reducing and stabilizing agents during nanoparticle formation. The biosynthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by a visible color change and UV–Visible spectroscopy, showing a surface plasmon resonance peak at 451 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the formation of crystalline metallic silver (Ag) and silver chloride (AgCl) phases, with average crystallite sizes of 67.3 nm and 37.9 nm, respectively. Dynamic light scattering measurements revealed a relatively homogeneous particle size distribution influenced by biomolecular capping. The catalytic performance of the synthesized AgNPs was assessed through the degradation of methyl red and eosin dyes at room temperature and at 50 °C. Enhanced degradation efficiency was observed at elevated temperature, confirming the catalytic potential of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. Despite relatively slow and discontinuous degradation kinetics, the results demonstrate that Ipomoea batatas-derived AgNPs represent an environmentally friendly and sustainable nanomaterial for wastewater treatment applications.