Flower-like silver nanoparticles: an effective and recyclable catalyst for degradation of Rhodamine B with H2O2

An experiment seeking to generate silver nanoparticles resulted in the formation of flower-like silver nanoparticles over the surface of Zeolite A. After full characterization of the obtained composite using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, it was successfully used as an efficient catalyst in the degradation of Rhodamine B in aqueous solution with H2O2 as a green oxidant. It was found that degradation proceeds via a Fenton-like process under mild conditions in a rather short time (60 degrees C, 90 min). The catalyst was recovered easily and retained its activity for successive runs with no considerable decrease in its efficiency.