No abstract

Polycrystalline Ag NPs were synthesized by environment benign and cost effective green route method using Ficus Benjamina leaf extract (FBLE). As-synthesized Ag NPs were characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Structural analysis was carried out by employing the Rietveld refinement method which revealed that FBLE: Ag NPs exhibited face centered cubic crystallinity with space group \(Fm\stackrel{-}{3}m\) and space group no 225. FTIR spectra displayed the existence of phytochemicals such as phenols belonging to hydroxyl group (-OH) as bending vibration appeared at 3435 cm− 1 and 1638 cm− 1, respectively. Surface morphology and microstructure of FBLE: Ag NPs were depicted using FESEM and it was observed that biosynthesized Ag NPs showed well interlinked and homogenous distribution of grains with an average grain size of 31.12 ± 0.44 nm. FBLE: Ag NPs were used to detect heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Zinc (Zn) present in industrial waste water of different factories including textile, steel, and chemical.