Synthesis and Characterization of Palladium Nanoparticles Immobilized on Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Reduction of Nitroaromatic Compounds

Throughout the present research, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have been modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and also they have been exploited as the support for palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) using palladium complex. Moreover, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FT-IR), Powder X-ray Diffraction(PXRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy(FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy(EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy(TEM), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy(ICP-OES) and Thermal gravimetric Analysis(TGA) were employed to characterize the Pd@CNC-APTES nanocatalyst. The catalytic activity of the nanocatalyst has been investigated in the reduction of p-Nitrophenol(p-NP) and the other nitroaromatic compounds to the corresponding amine. Furthermore, the catalyst could be recycled four times without the considerable loss of Pd content and with a high level of p-NP conversion. Using experimental results, thermodynamic parameters were calculated by Arrhenius and Eyring equations. The findings revealed the significant catalytic activity of Pd@CNC-APTES nanocatalyst for the reduction of p-NP and its derivatives by sodium borohydride(NaBH4) at room temperature.