Bio-synthesis and structural characterization of highly stable silver nanoparticles decorated on a sustainable bio-composite for catalytic reduction of nitroarenes

Abstract

Bio-polymers are the most significant natural alternative stabilizers compared to their synthetic counterparts for fabrication of noble metal nanoparticles because of their higher thermal stability, renewability, low cost, eco-friendliness, strong mechanical capacity, and biodegradability properties. Therefore, a new bio-composite (CMC-Pct-AG), which is consisted of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, agar, and pectin natural biopolymers, was fabricated as an immobilizing agent in this study. Then, highly stable silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs@CMC-AG-Pct) were successfully decorated on the surface of designed CMC-Pct-AG without the use of any hazardous reducing agents, and their chemical structures were illuminated with Uv–Vis, FT-IR, TG/DTG, SEM, EDS, XRD, and ICP-OES analyses. Subsequently, the catalytic performance of Ag NPs@CMC-AG-Pct was studied in the reduction of various nitroarenes in the presence of NaBH4 at room temperature. These tests indicate that Ag NPs@CMC-AG-Pct is an efficient catalyst which converts nitroarenes to desired amines with good yields and short reaction times. Reproducibility of the catalyst was also investigated, and it is found that Ag NPs@CMC-AG-Pct served several times as a retrievable and reusable catalyst for catalytic reduction of nitroarenes.