Synthesis and characterization of NiFe2O4–Pd magnetically recyclable catalyst for hydrogenation reaction

Herein we report the fabrication and characterization magnetically recyclable catalysts of NiFe2O4–Pd nanocomposite as highly effective catalysts for reduction reactions in liquid phase. The reduction Pd2+ was accomplished with polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400) instead of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and NiFe2O4 nanoparticles was prepared by sonochemically using FeCI3·6H2O and NiCl2. The chemical characterization of the product was done with X-ray diffractometry, Infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry and inductively coupled plasma. Thus formed NiFe2O4–Pd MRCs showed a very high activity in reduction reactions of 4-nitro aniline and 1,3-dinitrobenzene in liquid phase. It was found out that the catalytic activity of NiFe2O4–Pd MRCs on the reduction of 4-nitro aniline and 1,3-dinitrobenzene in liquid phase are between 99–93% and 98–93%, respectively. Magnetic character of this system allowed recovery and multiple use without significant loss of its catalytic activity. It is found that NiFe2O4–Pd MRCs showed very efficient catalytic activity and multiple usability.

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► Novel superparamagnetic NiFe2O4–Pd magnetically recyclable catalyst was fabricated through co-precipitation.
► It could be reused several times without significant loss in catalytic activity for hydrogenation reaction.
► No further modification of the NiFe2O4–Pd magnetically recyclable catalyst is necessary for utilization as catalyst.