Silver Nanoparticle-Enabled Dye Remediation for Safe Water: Mechanistic Insights, Environmental Risks, and...

Toxic dyes from paper, leather, and textile industries increasingly threaten access to clean, safe water. Such pollutants persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in the food chain, and can be harmful to human health and the environment. Traditional treatment procedures necessitate more effective remediation procedures. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are reported to have photocatalytic and antibacterial activities. In this review, we will address the synthesis of AgNPs and their role in dye degradation and highlight the impact of different synthesis techniques (chemical, physical, and green) on properties such as size, morphology, and stability. Electron-transfer and adsorption mechanisms govern the interaction between AgNPs and dye molecules and the degradation efficiency. This review article addresses the challenges of recovery, leaching, ecotoxicity, and long-term stability but also the antibacterial properties of AgNPs and their potential use in integrated water treatment systems. The practical wastewater testing of the applications indicated the necessity of sustainable AgNP synthesis and scalability of the process. The review aims to fill the gaps and to improve AgNP-based water treatment systems to state-specific technical interdisciplinary strategies.