Catalytic performance of Ag/Ni nanoparticle‐loaded starch/alginate hybrid microgel for degradation of organic dyes

Abstract BACKGROUND A Biodegradable microgel containing starch and sodium alginate was prepared by the free radical precipitation polymerization method, and nanoparticles of silver and nickel were incorporated by the in‐situ reduction method. RESULTS Ag‐O stretching, the main component of the bimetallic p (NIPAM‐AAc‐Str‐SA), is indicated by the bands at 865 cm −1 in FTIR spectroscopic analysis. A porous structure with cavities that enhance water absorption and bimetallic nanoparticle entrapment was revealed in the hybrid microgel by SEM, with pore size regulated by SA. A high‐intensity peak observed at 0.9 KeV and another smaller peak at 2.9 KeV were identified by EDX analysis and the presence of nickel (Ni) and silver (Ag), respectively, in the prepared sample of bimetallic p(NIPAM‐AAc‐Str‐SA) hybrid microgel was indicated. CONCLUSION According to DLS, hybrid microgels had an average size of 80.83 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.653. A lower PDI value suggests that the nanoparticles were evenly distributed throughout the microgel. Reduction of organic dyes is performed by using a hybrid microgel. Different kinetic parameters, including the apparent rate constant ( K app ), reduction time, % reduction, and half‐life, were compared for all substrates, and their catalytic activity was checked. Rhodamine B was the best reduced using hybrid microgel as compared to other dyes, about 98% reduction, having an apparent rate constant of 0.1349 min −1 , reduction time of 20 min and half‐life of 5 min. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).