- in the above methods, what would the researcher have used as a blank? Explain your reasoning- looking at fig.3A, what kind of control do you think" control methyl red" is? What would be in this control and why?

1 . The following is an excerpt of a methods and results section from a paper. Methods: To determine the decolorization potential of AgNP a slightly modified protocol of a previous paper was adopted. The sample was prepared in 50 mmol/ sodium citrate buffer which contained dye solution [Methyl red (50 mg/1)], AgNP (1 mg/ml), Biomass extract (2 mg/ml) and AgNO: (1 mM Samples were taken at 24 h interval and centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 20 min). The decrease of color intensity was analyzed spectrophotometrically at 430 nm (absorbance maximum for the orange color of methyl red). Methyl red percent dye decolorization was calculated according to the formula: D=100(Aini - Aobs)/Aini where, D is decolorization (in%), Aini, initial absorbance and Aobs, observed absorbance. Results: 100 SO- AgNP Biomass 60- "% Decolarization 40 20- 16 24 32 40 48 56 Time (h Fig. 3. A.B. Decolorization of organic dye methyl red by AgNP and Microchaete after 2 h of incubation