Pd and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Supported on ‎N-(2-Aminoethyl)Acetamide Functionalized ‎Cellulose as an Efficient Catalyst for ‎Epoxidation of Styrene

Keshipour, S.; Kalam Khalteh, N.

Pd and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Supported on ‎N-(2-Aminoethyl)Acetamide Functionalized ‎Cellulose as an Efficient Catalyst for ‎Epoxidation of Styrene

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

S. Keshipour

N. Kalam Khalteh

Department of Nanochemistry, Nanotechnology Research Centre, Urmia University, G. C., P. ‎O. Box 165-5715944931, Urmia, Iran.‎

Abstract

A new efficient heterogeneous catalyst was introduced for the epoxidation of styrene. The catalyst was obtained from functionalization of cellulose with N-(2-aminoethyl)acetamide, and then deposition of nanoparticles and Pd(0) nanoparticles on the modified cellulose. The Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were deposited via chemical oxidation in basic media and Pd(0) nanoparticles were deposited with chemical reduction using NaBH₄. The catalyst was characterized with various characterization methods including FT-IR (for study of structure modifications), XRD (for study of nanoparticles), TGA (for thermal stability), EDX (for elemental analysis), CHN (for elemental analysis of organic compounds), FAAS (for Pd and Fe concentrations) and TEM (for study of nanoparticles). High yield and excellent selectivity was achieved for the epoxidation of styrene. The reaction was performed in H₂O as the green solvent at 100 °C using H₂O₂ as a green oxidant. The reaction has some advantages such as green solvent, high yield, excellent selectivity and green oxidant. Also, the catalyst easily was recovered with a magnet. The magnetically recovered catalyst is applicable for 4 times without decrease in the yield.

Keywords

Cellulose

Epoxidation

Styrene oxide

Magnetic catalyst

Heterogeneous catalyst.‎