Environmentally-friendly sonochemistry synthesis of hybrids from lignocelluloses and silver

The purpose of this study was to explore a green strategy about the high value-added applications of biomass. Hybrids from lignocelluloses and silver have been successfully prepared using NaBH4 as reducing reagent by an environmentally-friendly sonochemistry method. The phase, microstructure, and morphology of the hybrids were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The influences of the various reaction parameters including reaction time, lignocelluloses concentration, and types of reducing reagents on the products were investigated in detail. Silver particles can be better dispersed on the lignocelluloses matrix by adjusting reaction parameters. These hybrids may be a promising antimicrobial material for their applications in the biomedical field. This environmentally-friendly synthetic strategy reported here opens a new window to the high value-added applications of lignocelluloses. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.