Reduction of nitrophenol isomers and degradation of azo dyes through zero-valent Ni nanoparticles anchored on cellulose acetate coated Ce/Zr composite

Abstract In the current study, ceria/zirconia (Ce/Zr) was coated in cellulose acetate (CA) polymer to make a nanocomposite sheet known as CA-Ce/Zr which was used for the stabilization of Ni nanoparticles (NPs) and is named as CA-Ce/Zr@Ni NPs. The CA-Ce/Zr@Ni NPs was used as a dip-catalyst for the reduction of ortho/meta/para-nitrophenol (ONP, MNP, PNP), congo red (CR), and methyl orange (MO) dyes degradation in aqueous medium using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. The rate constant kapp value deduced from pseudo-first order kinetics was found highest for CR degradation which is 2.95 × 10−1 min−1 compare to MO dye (2.95 × 10−1 min−1). Similarly, PNP displayed the highest rate constant value of 4.26 × 10−2 min−1 compared to ONP (3.57 × 10−2 min−1), and MNP (4.05 × 10−2 min−1). Furthermore, approximately 91% of CR degradation was achieved in only 8 min. An induction period (t0) of 10 min was observed for nitrophenol isomers. The nanocomposite and its anchored Ni NPs was characterized through FESEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. The supported Ni NPs was found stable after the reaction completion, and no leaching of the NPs was observed. Therefore, CA-Ce/Zr@Ni NPs could possibly be used for large scale applications.