Effective Reduction of Cr(VI) and Organic Dyes Using Pd NPs/Fe3O4@nanocellulose as a Recoverable Catalyst in Aqueous Media

Abstract

In this work, the extract of the roots plant of Chelidonium majus (greater celandine) was used to synthesize a magnetically reusable Pd nanoparticles supported by Fe3O4@nanocellulose through a green synthesis method. The Pd NPs/Fe3O4@nanocellulose catalyst as an impressive catalyst was prepared via reduction of Pd2+ ions using Chelidonium majus extract as bioreductant agent. The synthesized Pd NPs/Fe3O4@nanocellulose was characterized using vibrating sample magnetometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. This heterogeneous catalyst represented excellent activity for full degradation of Cr(VI) in the presence of formic acid at 50 °C, and reduction of methylene blue, methyl orange, rhodamine B and congo red in the presence of NaBH4 as a reducing agent at room temperature. The synthesized catalyst was also reused four times for the reduction reactions without significant activity loss.