RESPONSE SURFACE MODELLING FOR THE EFFICIENT PHOTODEGRADATION OF 2, 4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETICACID USING SILVER NANOPARTICLES

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most widely used herbicides. As a result, the aquatic environment and human health are threatened by its residue. In order to examine and compare how 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid degrades under artificial and natural light, Ag was successfully synthesized from Azadirachta indica (Neem) extract at room temperature via co precipitation method. Response Surface Modelling, which is a statistical tool used in the current work to optimise processes like photo catalysis with the least amount of laboratory analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X- Ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectrometry, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, were some of the characterization techniques used. The characterization of Ag nanoparticles confirmed the formation of crystalline structure and reviled that few parameters, including reactant concentration, reactant mixing ratio, reactant interaction time, etc., had a significant impact on the morphology and size of the nanoparticles. This work shows that 2, 4-D would be removed at a constant rate throughout the photo catalytic reaction (R2> 0.99). The highest percentage of 2,4-D herbicide 93.4% was efficiently degraded by the photo catalytic activity of Ag nanoparticles. (15 mg catalyst; 10 ppm 2,4-D concentration). Sunlight showed a higher percentage of degradation as compared to artificial light. In view of this, it can be stated that Ag is a material with great potential for 2,4-D photo catalytic degradation under optimal conditions.