Synthesis of magnetic silver cyclodextrin nanocomposite as catalyst for reduction of nitro aromatics and organic dyes

Abstract

Nanocomposites decorated with metallic nanoparticles in their matrix are important class of heterogeneous catalyst with high catalytic activity. Functionalized polymers are low cost materials which offer excellent supports for catalysts to render stability to metallic nanoparticles. Herein we report synthesis of Silver nanocomposite using β-cyclodextrin (b-CD) maleic anhydride crosslinked polymer anchored on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles. The nanocomposite was characterized using sophisticated analytical techniques and its role as a catalyst for reduction of nitroaromatics and organic dyes was investigated. This catalytic system exhibited comparatively lower Ea value of 18 kJ mol−1 and followed pseudo first order kinetics. Simultaneous reduction of 4-Nitrophenol and Methylene Blue could be achieved in a time interval of 7 minutes. Being magnetically separable, the catalyst exhibited high recycling efficiency (up to 5 cycles) and ease of operation under mild conditions.