Posted by An effective reduction of the organic pollutants, the nitroaromatics, was demonstrated via green sustainable chemistry using high efficacy of the catalytic materials, i.e., β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) functionalized Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). Eco-friendly and biocompatible techniques were employed to fabricate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from an Au precursor (HAuCl4) using β-CD that plays as both reducing and surface-functionalizing agents. The catalytic activity of the β-CD AuNPs was evaluated using model reactions, including the catalytic conversion of nitroaromatics to the corresponding amino-aromatic compounds upon mixing sodium borohydride in a water medium. Chemical reactions of such catalytic reduction of nitroaromatics were tracked by UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy, showing high catalytic activity of β-CD AuNPs. We also provided a discussion on the possible pathways for the AuNPs-mediated catalytic reduction of nitroaromatics. The efficacy of the nanocatalysts presented to reduce nitroaromatics can hold a potential promise for detoxifying aquatic environments and their pharmaceutical applications.
Ramar Rajamanikandan, Malaichamy Ilanchelian, Heongkyu Ju (2023) β-cyclodextrin functionalized gold nanoparticles as an effective nanocatalyst for reducing toxic nitroaromatics. Optical Materials 135, 113294, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2022.113294.