Abstract
In this work, a new natural hydrogel containing reduced graphene oxide (RGO) supporting silver (Ag) nanoparticles composite were successfully prepared and tested as catalyst for waste water treatment. The formed hydrogels contain a network structure of cross-linked nanosheets decorated with metal nanoparticles. The reported method is based on in situ co-reduction of GO and Ag acetate within the natural hydrogel matrix to form RGO-based composite gel, carried on with a ‘green’ process. The silver nanoparticles were homogeneously and uniformly dispersed on the surface of the RGO nanosheets. The hybrid acts as catalyst for the reduction of organic pollutants in an aqueous environment, while the natural hydrogels hinders the intrinsic aggregation of the nanofiller, due to the protection of the formed 3-D network, preserving the catalytic activity. Interestingly, the as-prepared catalytic composite matrix structure can be easily handled, e.g. for separation from an aqueous environment after the reaction, suggesting the potentially large-scale applications of the RGO-based nanoparticle-containing composite hydrogels for nitrile compounds removal and wastewater treatment. The morphology of our composite has been investigated by using: X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with a mass spectrometer, Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy. The catalytic performance has been evaluated by recording the reaction progress with a UV-vis Spectrometer.
