Performance of cellulose acetate-ferric oxide nanocomposite supported metal catalysts toward the reduction of environmental pollutants

Abstract

Water contamination by toxic compounds has become one of the most serious problems worldwide. Catalytic reduction using metal nanoparticles offer opportunities for environmental benefits. In this study, cellulose acetate-ferric oxide nanocomposite (CA/Fe₂O₃) was prepared and used as support for metal nanoparticles. After adsorption of Ag, Cu or Ni ions from aqueous solutions, metal ions associated with CA/Fe₂O₃ were treated with sodium borohydride to prepare Ag, Cu and Ni nanoparticles loaded CA/Fe₂O₃. The CA/Fe₂O₃ supported Ag, Cu or Ni nanoparticles was evaluated as a catalyst for pollutants degradation. Silver nanoparticles (Ag@CA/Fe₂O₃) exhibit remarkable decomposition for methyl orange dye and p-nitrophenol in short time. The rate constant for methyl orange and p-nitrophenol were 8.58×10^-3 and 4.77×10^-3s^-1, respectively. Besides the good catalytic activities of Ag@CA/Fe₂O₃, the catalyst could be easily recovered from the reaction medium by pulling the catalyst after completion of the reduction reaction. The recovered catalyst can be recycled several times if their exposure time to air was minimal.

Keywords: Ag nanoparticles; Catalytic reduction; Cellulose acetate; Fe(2)O(3); Reusable catalyst.