Application of Nanotechnology in Water Research

Chapter 13

Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol as a Model Reaction for Nanocatalysis

Jihyang Noh and Reinout Meijboom*

Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa

*Corresponding author: [e-mail]

Abstract

Noble metal nanocomposites have received a great deal of attention in the field of catalysis due to their unique properties, which are directly related to their shapes and sizes. To investigate and derive a definite conclusion about the catalytic activity of various nanocatalysts with different sizes, shapes, and even porosities, a model reaction needed to be selected. The reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by NaBH₄ has been widely used as this model reaction, since it is easy to monitor with simple and fast analytical techniques, and there are no by-products. This reaction is also valuable in the view of green chemistry since 4-NP, one of the toxic substance in the wastewater, is converted into a commercially important substance, 4-aminophenol (4-AP). Here we present an overview of the mechanistic studies into 4-NP reduction, followed by a comprehensive overview of materials evaluated for this reaction.

Keywords: 4-nitrophenol reduction, nanocatalyst, kinetics, mechanism

13.1 Introduction

Noble metal nanocomposites have received much attention in the field of catalysis due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and their high surface energy. These properties render their surface atoms very active [1]. The reduction potential is significantly ...