Green synthesis of the Pd/perlite nanocomposite using Euphorbia neriifolia L. leaf extract and evaluation of its catalytic activity

Abstract

Abstract A facile and one-step green process to synthesize palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) dispersed on perlite is reported. In this study, for the first time, we describe the successful assembly of the Pd/perlite nanocomposite using Euphorbia neriifolia L. leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The Pd/perlite nanocomposite showed high efficiency in the catalytic reduction of nitroarenes such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2,4-dinitrophenilhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) to the corresponding amines. This catalyst also could exhibited a high activity toward the reduction of organic dyes such as Congo red (CR), Rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) by NaBH 4 in aqueous solution with high level of reusability. The catalytic reduction reactions were monitored by employing UV–Vis spectroscopy. The structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties were characterized by various analytical techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and FT-IR spectroscopy.