Enhancing the stability of colloidal silver nanoparticles using polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from Bacillus circulans (MTCC 8167) isolated from crude oil contaminated soil

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) was produced by growing Bacillus circulans (MTCC 8167) in the specific detection medium. The identification of the polymer as PHA was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The PHA was purified and characterized using FT-IR. The silver nanoparticles (SNP) were synthesized from AgNO3 in the dispersed colloids of PHA (0.085%) using NaBH4 (sodium borohydrate as reducing agent). The stability was tested using wave length scanning with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and finally with transmission electron microscopy. The PHA stabilized solution was found to be stable for 30 days as against the low stability of silver nanoparticles (SNP) solution alone.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The polyhydroxy alkanoate (PHA) from the bacterial source isolated from crude oil contaminated soil was purified and characterized successfully and identified as a type of polyhydroxy alkanoic acid. ► Synthesis of SNP-PHA provides stability to the SNP colloids for more than 30 days.