Generation of Cu nanoparticles on novel designed Fe3O4@SiO2/EP.EN.EG as reusable nanocatalyst for the reduction of nitro compounds

Abstract

In this work, copper nanoparticles loaded on Fe₃O₄@SiO₂, which we have named Fe₃O₄@SiO₂/EP.EN.EG@Cu for short, have been designed, prepared and characterized by XRD, FTIR, TEM, SEM, EDS, TGA, ICP, successfully. The catalytic performance was investigated in the reduction of aromatic nitro compounds in the presence of NaBH₄ aqueous solution as the source of hydrogen at 50 °C. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂/EP.EN.EG@Cu catalyst was readily removed from the reaction mixture by applying an external magnet and reused for five times without significant loss of catalytic activity.