Magnetic recoverable CuFe2O4/cellulose nanocrystal composite as an efficient catalyst for 4-nitrophenol reduction

Abstract

CuFe2O4/cellulose nanocrystal (CuFe2O4/CNC) composite featured high magnetic activity was prepared by a facile and one-pot solvothermal method. Based on the solvothermal condition, nanometer-sized magnetic CuFe2O4 ferrite particles (CuFe2O4 NPs) were directly synthesized and CNC was coated on the surfaces of CuFe2O4 NPs. The composition, structure, morphology, and magnetic property of prepared CuFe2O4/CNC material were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM). FESEM and EDX mapping results showed that CuFe2O4 NPs had a uniform size of 88 nm and were immobilized on the CNC. The catalytic activity of CuFe2O4/CNC was tested in the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol in aqueous solution. After immersion treatment by NaBH4, the CuFe2O4/CNC composite exhibited high catalytic efficiency in reducing 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. The 4-nitrophenol could be fully reduced in less than 5 minutes. The high catalytic activity was attributed to the easy accessibility of the 4-NP ions by CNC and CuFe2O4 active sites. Owing to its environmental sustainability and being recoverable by magnetic force, CuFe2O4/CNC is suggested to be a promising catalyst with potential applications in wastewater treatment.