Cu-immobilized cellulose filter paper: effect of polymer structure and functionality on catalytic activity and reusability for 4-nitrophenol reduction

ABSTRACT

Cellulose filter paper (CFP) was modified with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and/or poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate (PEGMA), followed by Cu immobilization for 4-nitrophenol (4NP) reduction. Among these samples, Cu-immobilized CFP modified with PEGMA polymer (CFP@PEGMA-Cu) exhibited the highest Cu incorporation of 2.21%. Those having the copolymer (CFP@PAA-co-PEGMA-Cu) demonstrated the highest efficiency, completing 4NP reduction in 3 min with an impressive 99.45% conversion, a high-rate constant (k) of 27.5 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, and turnover frequency (TOF) of 18.36 h⁻¹. Notably, the catalysts containing PAA maintained good reusability, preserving 97% conversion upon 9 cycles. These results suggest their promising applications in sustainable catalysis, offering the catalytic potential with simple preparation and low cost required.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• 4-nitrophenol reduction
• catalyst
• cellulose filter paper
• copper nanoparticle
• polymer

Acknowledgments

This project is financially supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and Naresuan University (N42A650330). W. Inthanusorn thanks the Royal Golden Jubilee PhD Program (PhD/0192/2559) for the scholarship.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors contributions

Metha Rutnakornpituk contributed to the conception, experimental design, and financial funding. Material preparation and catalytic activity experiments were performed by Nattanicha Jangpon, Jakkrit Tummachote, and Wasawat Intranusorn. Data collection and analyses were handled by Wasawat Intranusorn. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Wasawat Intranusorn and all authors commented on the revised versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/25740881.2024.2325416

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Council of Thailand [N42A650330]; Royal Golden Jubilee (RGJ) Ph.D. Programme [PhD/0192/2559].

Notes on contributors

Wasawat Inthanusorn

Wasawat Inthanusorn, Male, Doctor of Philosophy, from the Department of Chemistry at Naresuan University, Thailand, and completed a visiting PhD program at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Germany. Currently, he is working as a postdoctoral researcher. Research interests include the modification of nanoparticles and the synthesis of thermo-responsive polymers.

Jakkrit Tummachote

Jakkrit Tummachote, Male, Doctor of Philosophy from the Department of Chemistry at Naresuan University, Thailand. Research interests include the development of nano adsorbents for BPA detection and nanocatalysts for reduction reactions.

Nattanicha Jangpon

Nattanicha Jangpon, Female, currently studying a Bachelor of Science in the Department of Chemistry at Naresuan University, Thailand. Research interests focus on the modification of solid supports for reduction reactions.

Metha Rutnakornpituk

Metha Rutnakornpituk, Male, a Professor in Organic Polymer Chemistry at Naresuan University, Thailand. Topics of research include the synthesis of copolymers via controlled radical polymerization (e.g. ATRP) and surface modification of nanoparticle.