Palladium nanoparticles supported on mesoporous natural phosphate: An efficient recyclable catalyst for nitroarene reduction

We report the preparation of palladium nanoparticles supported on mesoporous natural phosphate (Pd@NP) using a wetness impregnation method. The prepared catalyst was characterized using various techniques. Furthermore, the reduction and preparation of the palladium nanoparticles was followed using UV-visible spectra. Based on the Scherrer equation, the crystallite size of the as-synthesized palladium nanoparticles was 10.88 nm. The performance of the synthesized catalyst was investigated in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol as a model substrate to 4-aminophenol using NaBH4 as a hydrogen source. Moreover, catalytic reduction of various nitroarenes was studied and monitored using UV-visible spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The Pd@NP catalyst showed a high activity for the selected reaction and could be recycled.