The catalytic reduction of p-Nitrophenol (p-NP) was carried out using a magnetite (Fe3O4) in the presence of NaBH4. Especially, polycrystalline magnetite showed a remarkable catalytic activity, resulting in reductive conversion of p-NP to p-Aminophenol (p-AP). We observed a unique active surface in macroscale polycrystalline magnetite (2~5 μm) leading to the p-NP reduction, while other nanoscale magnetite in the range of 10-500 nm did not show the catalytic activity in this study. The results from a variety of surface analysis such as TEM, XRD, AFM and Mössbauer revealed that polycrystalline magnetite could effectively react with NaBH4 and form nanoscale zerovalent iron particles, leading to the enhanced catalytic p-NP reduction. Density functional theory calculation further elucidated that the Fe atom exposed at the high-index magnetite surface develops a significant Fe-BH3 interaction and its leaching-out process can be substantially promoted. The findings from these studies can provide fundamental knowledge on the interaction of polycrystalline magnetite with NaBH4 and highlight the potential use of Fe for the development of novel Fe-environmental energy catalysts.

Catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol by magnetite in the presence of NaBH4

256th National Meeting (2018)

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