In this study, the catalytic reduction of p-Nitrophenol (p-NP) was performed by nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) in the presence of NaBH4. Catalytic conversion of p-NP to p-Aminophenol (p-AP) has a environmental and commercial relevance because p-NP has been considered as one of the toxic organic pollutants, but p-AP is an important intermediate for production of analgesic/antipyretic drugs, paracetamol, and aniline. We found that 60-100 nm of initial NZVI particle disintegrated to much smaller nanoparticles (15-40 nm) after reaction with NaBH4 solution, resulting in the enhanced catalytic p-NP reduction. Moreover, the small NZVI particles revealed a great reactivity, high conversion of p-NP to p-AP, and reusability, which can be comparable with other noble metallic catalysts (e.g., Au, Ag, Pd, and Pt). Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation showed that the outermost surface of NZVI (i.e., magnetite) can also thermodynamically proceed the reduction of p-NP, indicating both catalytic property of NZVI and hydrolysis on magnetite surface were key factors for enhanced catalytic p-NP reduction in NZVI-NaBH4 suspension. The novel findings from this study can be used for application of NZVI for reductive treatment of wastewater contaminated by organic pollutants in O2-present environments.

Effect of NaBH4 on catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol by nanoscale zerovalent iron

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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