Optimization for silver remediation from aqueous solution by novel bacterial isolates using response surface methodology: Recovery and characterization of biogenic AgNPs.

•Three highly efficient bacterial strains capable of silver removal were isolated from silver mining site and characterized.•The RSM is a powerful tool for optimizing the operational conditions for silver removal by bacterial isolates.•Among three strains, Enterobacter cloacae alone can remove up to 100% of added silver and synthesized AgNPs.•The synthesized AgNPs were recovered through centrifugation and by applying external voltage directly from the crude mixture.•UV-vis spectroscopy, DLS, SEM, FTIR, TEM, EDS mapping were used to characterize biogenic AgNPs.