Abstract
Iron/palladium bimetallic nanoparticles (Fe/Pd NPs) are important catalytic materials for the field of environmental remediation. In the present study, filter paper was employed as a substrate for the assembly of Fe/Pd NPs and further applied for the catalytic conversion of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) toward trivalent Cr(III). First, a filter paper with negative charge was assembled with a layer of positively charged polyethylenimine (PEI) through electrostatic interaction; then, the abundant amine groups of PEI were used to complex Fe(III) ions, followed by reduction via sodium borohydride to produce an Fe NP-assembled filter paper. Thereafter, the Fe/Pd NPs were produced by the reduction of PdCl42− through Fe NPs. The prepared filter paper assembled with Fe/Pd NPs with a mean diameter of 10.1 nm was characterized by various techniques. The Fe/Pd NP-assembled filter paper possesses powerful catalytic activity and can be used to transform Cr(VI) to Cr(III). With its low cost, high sustainability, and convenient industrialization potential, the developed approach may be extended to produce other bimetallic NP-immobilized filter paper for different environmental remediation applications.
Highlights
Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) has been classified as class I carcinogen that is highly toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer [1]
We demonstrated that the negatively charged cellulose microfibril could be firstly modified with PEI through electrostatic adsorption, and complexed with PdCl42− ions for generating Pd NPs [22]
Filter paper with negative charge was assembled with a layer of PEI via electrostatic interaction; Fe(III) ions were complexed with abundant amine groups of PEI, followed by the formation of Fe NPs onto the filter paper after NaBH4 reduction
Summary
Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) has been classified as class I carcinogen that is highly toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer [1]. We demonstrated that the negatively charged cellulose microfibril could be firstly modified with PEI through electrostatic adsorption, and complexed with PdCl42− ions for generating Pd NPs [22]. These earlier studies related to the functionalization of metallic NPs on the surface of filter paper lead us to assume that bimetallic Fe/Pd NPs can be functionalized onto the surface of cellulose microfibril for environmental remediation. Through in-depth literature exploration, we can safely claim that there has been no similar study on the preparation of Fe/Pd NP-assembled filter paper for catalytic applications
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
