Magnetically separable chicken feathers: a biopolymer based heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of organic substrates

Magnetically separable poultry chicken feathers were found to be an efficient, green and heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of alcohols and sulfides to the corresponding carbonyl compounds and sulfoxides, respectively using t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant with complete selectivity and high conversions. The developed catalyst exhibited higher stability, activity and better recycling ability than the bare magnetic nanoparticles. The designed catalyst could readily be recovered using an external magnet without showing any significant leaching during the reaction.