Catalytic innovations: Improving wastewater treatment and hydrogen generation technologies

The effective reduction of hazardous organic pollutants in wastewater is a pressing global concern, necessitating the development of advanced treatment technologies. Pollutants such as nitrophenols and dyes, which pose significant risks to both human and aquatic health, making their reduction particularly crucial. Despite the existence of various methods to eliminate these pollutants, they are not without limitations. The utilization of nanomaterials as catalysts for chemical reduction exhibits a promising alternative owing to their distinguished catalytic activity and substantial surface area. For catalytically reducing the pollutants NaBH4 has been utilized as a useful source for it because it reduces the pollutants quiet efficiently and it also releases hydrogen gas as well which can be used as a source of energy. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent research on different types of nanomaterials that function as catalysts to reduce organic pollutants and also generating hydrogen from NaBH4 methanolysis while also evaluating the positive and negative aspects of nanocatalyst. Additionally, this paper examines the features effecting the process and the mechanism of catalysis. The comparison of different catalysts is based on size of catalyst, reaction time, rate of reaction, hydrogen generation rate, activation energy, and durability. The information obtained from this paper can be used to steer the development of new catalysts for reducing organic pollutants and generation hydrogen by NaBH4 methanolysis.

Catalytic degradation of azo dyes by bimetallic nanoparticles loaded in smart polymer microgels

The contamination of water by azo dyes is increasing rapidly due to their waste use in textile industries. These dyes are very toxic for living things. Therefore, it is very important to remove these dyes from water. Various materials are reported for this purpose. Here, the most effective system of bimetallic nanoparticles in smart polymer microgels was prepared. The microgel system of N-isopropylmethacrylamide (NMA) (monomer) and methacrylic acid (MAa) (comonomer) was synthesized by a free radical precipitation polymerization method and then bimetallic (Ag/Ni) nanoparticles were encapsulated into the P(NMA-MAa) microgels by in situ reduction of both silver and nickel salts by NaBH₄ (reductant) after insertion of both (Ag⁺/Ni²⁺) ions. The P(NMA-MAa) microgels and Ag/Ni-P(NMA-MAa) hybrid microgels were characterized with FTIR, UV-vis, TGA, XRD, DLS, EDX, and STEM. The pH and temperature responsive behavior of Ag/Ni-P(NMA-MAa) was also evaluated. The catalytic efficiency of Ag/Ni-P(NMA-MAa) was assessed for degradation of methyl orange (MOr), congo red (CRe), eriochrome black T (EBlT) and methyl red (MRe) dyes under various conditions in aqueous medium. The apparent rate constant (k ₀) value for MOr, CRe, EBlT and MRe was found to be 0.925 min^-1, 0.486 min^-1, 0.540 min^-1 and 0.525 min^-1 respectively. The Ag/Ni-P(NMA-MAa) was found to be an excellent recyclable catalyst.

Methacrylic acid based microgels and hybrid microgels

Methacrylic acid based microgels have got much consideration in the last two decades because of their potential uses in different fields owing to their responsive behaviour towards external stimuli. Synthesis, properties and uses of methacrylic acid based microgels and their hybrids have been critically reviewed in this article. With minute change in external stimuli such as pH and ionic strength of medium, these microgels show quick swelling/deswelling reversibly. The methacrylic acid based microgels have been widely reported for applications in the area of nanotechnology, drug delivery, sensing and catalysis due to their responsive behaviour. A critical review of current research development in this field along with upcoming perception is presented here. This discussion is concluded with proposed probable future studies for additional growth in this field of research.

Complete life of cobalt nanoparticles loaded into cross-linked organic polymers: a review

The synthesis and use of Co nanoparticles loaded into cross-linked polymers for generation of hydrogen is discussed in detail. The factors affecting hydrogen production have been discussed briefly. The catalytic reduction of dyes and nitroarenes is also discussed in detail.

FORMATION OF NICKEL NANOPARTICLES IN SOLUTIONS OF A HYDROPHILIC GRAFT COPOLYMER

A graft copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) and polyacrylamide (PVA-g-PAAm) with interacting main and grafted chains was synthesized by radical matrix polymerization of PAAm from the PVA backbone in an aqueous medium. Its basic molecular parameters including the number and length (molecular weight) of grafts were determined using elemental analysis, DTGA and viscometry. The copolymer macromolecules formed special monomolecular micelles of elipsoidal shape and length ~18-64 nm in aqueous solutions due to the formation of intramolecular polycomplexes between the main and grafted chains. This copolymer was used as a hydrophilic matrix for the in situ synthesis of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) in aqueous solutions.On the basis of UV-Vis spectroscopy, an original and simple method for monitoring the kinetics of the formation and yield of metal nanoparticles in systems in which a surface plasmon resonance band does not appear has been proposed and implemented. Using this approach, the kinetics of borohydride reduction of Ni-salt to NiNPs in pure water and PVA-g-PAAm solutions was studied depending on the concentrations of Ni-salt and copolymer matrices. An increase in the initial rate of accumulation and yield of NiNPs with an increase in the concentration of Ni-salt and a decrease in both parameters in copolymer solutions in comparison with pure water was established. At the same time, the accumulation rate and NiNP yield in a complex way was depended on the matrix concentration that was determined by the ratio of such factors as a decrease in the diffusion rate of NaBH4 molecules in copolymer solutions and the accumulation of Ni2+-ions in matrix particles due to complexation with active chemical groups at the first stage of reduction process. The morphology and main structural elements of the NiNPs/PVA-g-PAAm composition were revealed using TEM. It was shown that the in situ synthesis of NiNPs in copolymer matrices was accompanied by the “detachment” of PAAm grafts from the main PVA chains and led to the appearance of two new structures, such as “hairy coils” and “hairy rods”, containing small spherical NiNPs (d~0,5–12,0 nm) in isolated and chain states, respectively. The appearance of the latter structures was explained by the formation of coordination complexes of Ni2+-ions with active groups of both PVA and PAAm chains at the first stage of the reduction reaction.

Recyclable polymer microgel stabilized rhodium nanoparticles for reductive degradation of para-nitrophenol

The purpose of present work is to fabricate rhodium nanoparticles in Poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide-acrylic acid) [p(NMAA)] microgel system. Synthesized polymer [p(NMAA)] microgels and rhodium nanoparticles loaded [Rh-p(NMAA)] microgels were analyzed by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-red) spectroscopy, XRD (X-ray Diffraction) analysis and UV/Vis (Ultraviolet–Visible) spectroscopy. Catalytic reductive conversion of P-nitrophenol (P-Nph) into P-aminophenol (P-Aph) via Rh-p(NMAA) was used to evaluate the catalytic activity of the hybrid microgel [Rh-p(NMAA)]. Kinetic study of catalytic reductive conversion of P-Nph was explored by considering various reaction parameters. It was found that the value of first order observed rate constant (k obs) was varied from 0.019 to 0.206 min−1 with change in concentration of sodium borohydride (SBH) from 3 to 14 mM at given temperature. However, further increment in concentration of SBH from 14 to 17 mM, reduced the value of k obs from 0.206 to 0.156 min−1. The similar dependence of k obs on concentration of P-Nph was observed at specific concentration of SBH and Rh-p(NMAA) at constant temperature. Kinetic study reveals that conversion of P-Nph to P-Aph takes place on the surface of rhodium nanoparticles (RhNPs) by adopting different reactions intermediates and obeys the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. Reduction efficiency of recycled Rh-p(NMAA) catalytic system was also measured and no significant reduction in the percentage catalytic activity was obtained up to four cycles for P-Nph conversion into P-Aph.

Physicochemical aspects of inorganic nanoparticles stabilized in N-vinyl caprolactam based microgels for various applications

The vinyl caprolactam (VCL) based microgel system has become the center of great attention due to its versatile properties. Copolymerization of VCL with an ionic monomer imparts pH responsive properties into the microgel system in addition to thermo-sensitivity. Stimuli responsive behavior of VCL-based microgels makes them prospective and appealing candidates for practical applications covering the fields of drug delivery, catalysis and optical devices. In the last few years, VCL-based microgels have been used as microreactors and stabilizers for the synthesis and stabilization of inorganic nanoparticles to obtain hybrid microgels. The present review article provides a summary of the present-day progress of fabrication, stabilization, categorization and analysis of VCL-based microgels and their hybrids with different morphologies. The stimuli responsive properties and applications of VCL-based hybrid microgels have been reviewed critically. The remaining problems which need to be addressed have been pointed out for further advancement in this field.

Facile synthesis of hydrogel-nickel nanoparticle composites and their applications in adsorption and catalysis

Homopolymer bulk hydrogel of methacrylic acid was synthesized through a new single-step facile rout and used as a template for the fabrication of nickel (Ni) nanoparticles and as adsorbent to remove methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine-6G (Rh-6G) from water. The Ni nanoparticles containing composite hydrogel was applied as catalyst for the degradation of a nitro compound. The carboxylic groups acted as highly efficient adsorption sites and their high degree was responsible for the removal of huge amounts of MB and Rh-6G from water. The maximum adsorption capacity of poly (methacrylic acid) hydrogel was 685 mg g−1 for MB and 1571 mg g−1 for Rh-6G. The adsorption data of MB was best fitted with Langmuir adsorption isotherm while that of Rh-6G with Temkin adsorption isotherm. Catalytic property of prepared hydrogel integrated with Ni nanoparticles was evaluated by using it as a catalyst for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The apparent rate constant (k app) observed in this study for the reduction of 4-NP was as high as 0.038 min−1. It was found that this catalyst system can be used repetitively with a slight decrease in catalytic activity.

Silver nanoparticle-loaded microgel-based etalons for H2O2sensing

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were generated inside the network structure of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic acid (pNIPAm-co-AAc) microgels that were sandwiched between two thin Au layers (15 nm) of an etalon. This was done by introducing Ag⁺ to the etalons composed of deprotonated microgels, followed by its subsequent reduction with NaBH₄. The resultant microgels were collected and then characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), verifying the loading of AgNPs with relatively uniform diameter (5–7 nm) within the microgels. Furthermore, the optical properties of the resultant etalons and their response to H₂O₂ were evaluated by reflectance spectroscopy. Specifically, upon the addition of H₂O₂, the AgNP-loaded etalons exhibited both a red shift in the position of the reflectance peaks and an increase in reflected wavelength intensity. We hypothesize that the dual signal response of the devices was a result of oxidative decomposition of the AgNPs, enabling the microgels to swell and for more light to be reflected (due to the loss of the light absorbing AgNPs). Finally, we showed that the AgNPs could be regenerated in the used etalons multiple times without a loss in performance. This work provides a cost-effective means to detect H₂O₂, which could be modified to sense a variety of other species of physiological and environmental importance through rationally loading other functional nanomaterials.

Silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-loaded poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic acid (pNIPAm-co-AAc)-based microgels were generated and used to make etalons. The etalons were shown to exhibit optical properties that depended on the concentration of H₂O₂ in solution.

Engineering of silver nanoparticle fabricated poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) microgels for rapid catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene

Three different poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) [p(NIPAM-AA)] microgel samples were prepared using a precipitation polymerization method by varying the concentration of NIPAM and AA in aqueous medium. The microgels were used as microreactors to fabricate Ag nanoparticles (NPs) by in situ a reduction method. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-visible spectroscopy were used to characterize the pure and hybrid microgels. The hybrid microgels with different AA content were used as catalysts for reduction of nitrobenzene (NB) into aniline. The progress of the reaction was monitored by a UV-visible spectrophotometer. The results show that the value of the apparent rate constant for catalytic reduction of NB decreases from 0.431 min-1 to 0.227 min-1 by increasing AA content from 3 mol% to 7 mol%, respectively. Decrease in apparent rate constant with increase of AA content can be attributed to an increase in hydrophilicity with increase of AA contents of the microgels. The increase in induction period with increase of AA contents indicates that diffusion of NB towards the catalytic surface becomes difficult due to an increase of hydrophilicity.