Echinops bannaticus plant and Zinnia grandiflora extract as char biosource and reducing agent for the biosynthesis of Ag on magnetic char‐polymer: An efficient catalyst for water treatment

Abstract

In attempt to expand the use of natural compounds for waste treatment, a novel catalyst with the utility for dye reductive degradation is reported. In the catalyst synthesis procedure, the plant Echinops bannaticus was applied as a biosource and hydrothermally treated to furnish a hydrochar that served as a support. The latter was magnetized, vinyl functionalized, and then polymerized with copolymer of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methacrylate polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. Subsequently, Ag nanoparticles were stabilized on the resultant composite with the aid of Zinnia grandiflora extract as a natural reducing agent. The resulting catalyst displayed high catalytic activity for the reduction of methylene orange and rhodamine B dyes in aqueous media at room temperature. The effects of the reaction variables, including the reaction time and temperature, and the catalyst loading, were examined and the kinetic and thermodynamic terms for both reactions were evaluated. Ea, ΔH#, and ΔS# values for the reduction of methyl orange were estimated as 50.0 kJ/mol, 51.50 kJ/mol, and −102.42 J mol−1 K−1, respectively. These values for rhodamine B were measured as 28.0 kJ/mol, 25.5 kJ/mol, and −187.56 J mol−1 K−1, respectively. The recyclability test also affirmed that the catalyst was recyclable for several runs with insignificant Ag leaching and decrement of its activity.