Selective hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with rhodium nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes at room temperature

•PVP modified MWCNTs were prepared by sonication-assisted liquid phase exfoliation.•An Rh-PVP-MWCNT catalyst was prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method.•The Rh-PVP-MWCNT catalyst was used in hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber.•The Rh-PVP-MWCNT catalyst exhibited excellent activity at room temperature.

Carbon-nanotubes (CNTs)-supported rhodium (Rh) nanoparticle catalysts were prepared by sequential sonication-assisted liquid phase exfoliation of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), followed by microwave-assisted hydrothermal reduction of the supported Rh. The as-prepared Rh-PVP-MWCNT catalysts were applied in the selective hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber. The catalyst had excellent activity even at room temperature and can be easily separated from the product.

Graphical abstractRh-PVP-MWCNT catalyst prepared by sonication-assisted liquid phase exfoliation of MWCNTs and microwave-assisted hydrothermal reduction of Rh for room temperature hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide