Preparation and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from the Super-Heated Water Degraded Keratin Solutions

This research demonstrates that silver nanoparticles can be prepared from the chicken feathers keratin solution obtained by superheated water treatment. Feathers are inexpensive and renewable resources but have limited applications. In this study, a facile method was described for synthesis of silver nanoparticles by the super-heated water degradation of chicken feathers keratin without using any additional chemicals. Stable and well-dispersed silver nanoparticles of about 3.24 nm were biosynthesized. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and X-ray diffract. Prepared silver nanoparticles were stable on keeping at room temperature for more than 6 months and also stable in the presence of NaCl. The agglomerates caused by the decrease of pH value can easily be re-dispersed in alkaline aqueous media with no obvious change in their optical properties. The as-prepared silver nanoparticles have excellent antibacterial property reducing the bacterial population with more than 99.99%.