Immobilization of copper nanoparticles on perlite: Green synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity on aqueous reduction of 4-nitrophenol

•Green synthesis of Cu NPs/perlite composite.•Catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol.•Catalyst was characterized using XRF, XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, TG–DTA, BET, and FT-IR.•Catalyst can be easily recovered and reused.

We report the facile synthesis of environmentally benign Cu NPs/perlite composites without employing any toxic reductants or capping agents. Renewable natural Euphorbia esula L. not only functioned as a reductant, but also served as a stabilizer for the formation of Cu NPs. Cu NPs synthesized using aqueous extract of the leaves of E. esula L. was immobilized on perlite by a very simple and inexpensive method. The structural investigation was performed using XRF, XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, TG–DTA, BET and FT-IR. The Cu NPs/perlite shows favorable activity and separability on the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol, and can be reused several times without a decrease in the catalytic activity. Their reaction rate constant was calculated according to the pseudo-first-order reaction equation.

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