EXTRACELLULAR BIOSYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES BY BACILLUS TROPICUS ISOLATED FROM HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATED SOIL

Recently silver nanoparticles are subject of extensive research because of their exceptional physical, chemical, biological characteristics. Silver nanoparticles are found to possess potential uses in variety of fields including medical, environmental, agriculture and human health. Extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles is more convenient due to comparatively easy recovery process. Further, the product is obtained in more in quantity and pure form. In the present study silver nanoparticles were synthesized by using bacterial isolates isolated from heavy metal contaminating soil. Total eight bacterial isolates were isolated and studied for their ability to synthesize silver nanoparticles extracellularly. The most efficient isolate was identified to be Bacillus tropicus based on 16S rRNA genome sequencing. Nanoparticle sample was characterized by using SEM, TEM and FTIR spectroscopy. The silver nanoparticle size was in the range between 50- 80 nm.