Biosilica-nanogold composite: Easy-to-prepare catalyst for soman degradation

Abstract

A very fast single-step biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using algal cells of Mallomonas kalinae (MK) is introduced. The average particle size of crystalline AuNPs was approximately 10 nm. Subsequently, the catalytic activity of two systems – MK-biosilica scales and MK-biosilica scales with AuNPs – was compared with a control hydrolysis of soman (GD) performed in demineralized water. The kinetics of GD degradation was studied using a gas chromatography with mass detector (GC–MS) and solid-phase microextraction. The residual content of GD was 3.8% and 3.5% for both initial concentrations of GD (68 µg mL−1 and 340 µg mL−1, respectively) after 48 h of testing when nanogold was used as a catalyst. Experimental results confirmed the catalytic activity of biosynthesized AuNPs, as well as the role of biosilica itself in the degradation of GD. Keywords: Biosynthesis, Biosilica, Nanogold, Catalysis, Soman