A novel magnetic starch nanocomposite as a green heterogeneous support for immobilization of Cu nanoparticles and selective catalytic application in eco-friendly media

Abstract

In this work, Stipa capensis extract mediated the synthesis of Cu nanoparticles (Cu NPs) and their immobilization on the surface of nanostarch-coated Fe₃O₄. The prepared nanocatalyst (Cu NPs@Fe₃O₄-nanostarch) was characterized by fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analytical techniques. The nanocatalyst was used in selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) into benzaldehyde (BzH) by hydrogen peroxide under solvent-free reaction conditions. The synthesized magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst also showed high activity in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH), congo red (CR), methylene blue (MB), and potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) (K₃[Fe(CN)₆]) in water using NaBH₄ as the reduction agent at ambient temperature. Easy separation of catalyst, mild and eco-friendly reaction conditions, facile work-up, and the reusability of catalyst are some benefits of these methods.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Nanocomposite
• starch
• reduction
• oxidation
• Cu
• eco-friendly

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the Islamic Azad University of Qaemshahr Research Councils for support of this work.