Ultrasonic preparation of new polypyrrole@kenyaite@AgNPs nanocomposite: Applications towards catalytic reduction and antimicrobials activity

With regard to the critical impact of textile industry effluents on the environment, this study introduces a novel catalyst with highly dispersed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) immobilized on Na-kenyaite and polypyrrole (PPy) matrix. Several ratios of Na-kenyaite (5 %, 15 %, and 25 %) were dispersed in the conductive polymers to enhance its physicochemical properties and catalytic performance in the reduction of azo dyes methylene blue and methyl orange. Ultrasound treatment was crucial in the synthesis process since it generated an intercalated (polymer/layered silica) nanocomposite. The presence of Na-Kenyaite ensured the intercalation of a large amount of silver due to its cation exchange capacity and sonication allowed the obtention of an excellent uniform dispersion, stability, and the avoidance of aggregation. Various characterization techniques were used to analyze the obtained nanocomposites including XRD, FTIR, TGA, XPS, PL, SEM, and TEM. The material with the highest Na-Kenyaite ratio showed the best properties. Catalytic tests showed significant efficiency in dye reduction in both single with a total degradation of MB in 05 min and 06 min against MO in addition to a total conversion of binary dye systems in 07 min. The obtained nanocomposites exhibited notable antibacterial properties with a best inhibition zone of 24, 20, and 34 mm against Listeria monocytogene, Escherichia coli, and Penicillium pinophilum, respectively from Ag/PPy/ken 25 %.