Synthesis of magnetic Ni nanoparticles anchored on cellulose and its application towards reduction of 4-nitrophenol

4-nitrophenol (4-NP) is among the most common organic pollutants in industrial and agricultural wastewaters. It can damage the central nervous system, liver, kidney and blood of humans and animals [1]. Thus reduction of 4-NP to nondangerous product, 4-aminophenol (4-AP), is very useful and important in many applications that include analgesic and antipyretic drugs, photographic developers, corrosion inhibitors, anticorrosion lubricants, and so on [2]. 4-NP reduction using metal NPs has recently received much attention [3]. Among various metal nanoparticles, nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) have received great attention owing to their high catalytic activity, inexpensive nature, readily preparation, the ability to replace noble metal nanoparticles, and magnetic property which make them to be effective and easily separated from the reaction mixture by use of external magnet [4]. In the current work, we synthesis the magnetic Ni nanoparticles supported on cellulose (magnetic Ni NPs@Cellulose). The prepared nanocomposite was found to be highly efficient catalyst in the reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP with excess amounts of NaBH4 in water at room temperature (Scheme 1). Furthermore, the nanocomposite could be easily separated from the reaction media by an external magnet and reused four times without significant loss of activity.