Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using a Tamarix gallica leaf extract and their antibacterial activity

• Tamarix gallica leaves extract was used to silver nanoparticles synthesis.
• Studies by UV–vis spectroscopy confirmed the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their evolution over the time.
• FT-IR spectroscopy studies confirmed the organic compounds role in the reduction and stabilization of the Ag nanoparticles.
• The Ag nanoparticles morphology is almost spherical with a size range of 5–40 nm.
• Silver nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity against E. coli.

In this investigation, silver nanoparticles having a size ranging from 5 to 40 nm have been fast-biosynthesized by Tamarix gallica plant extract. The Ag nanoparticles obtained at room temperature by exposing the silver nitrate ions to the plant extract in an aqueous solution were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The biosynthesis process of spherical Ag nanoparticles exhibits a high rate of bioreduction being less than a 5 min reaction. UV–vis spectroscopy shows a surface plasmon resonance band located at 426.7 nm. The FT-IR spectrum of nanoparticles showed the presence of CO functional group that can be associated with the removal of aromatic compounds (benzenes) to form the nanometer solids. The antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli of silver nanoparticles synthesized with Tamarix gallica extract was confirmed.