Cu-EDA complex anchored onto magnetic cellulose: As an efficient and recyclable nanocatalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Nitroarene compounds such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) are persistent organic contaminants commonly found in various industrial effluents released from pesticides, plasticizers, dyes and pharmaceutical industries [1]. Besides, 4-NP is highly toxic and owing to its mutagenic effects and potential carcinogenicity has been listed as one of the main industrial pollutants by US environmental protection agency [2]. Therefore, it is necessary to find the effective methods to remove this contaminant. In this regard, the catalytic reduction of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) has gained significant interest since it usually occurs in the aqueous phase without the production of by-products, and the product 4-AP is potentially used in the production of analgesic, antipyretic drugs, anticorrosion lubricants. However, this process cannot proceed without catalyst [3]. In this work, the fabrication of a highly efficient magnetically separable nanocatalyst has been reported by immobilizing the Cu(II) over ethylenediamine (EDA) functionalized magnetic cellulose (Cu(II)-EDA@MC) and applied for the reduction of 4-NP by NaBH4 in water at room temperature (Scheme 1).