Preparation of Magnetically Recoverable MPCTP-Ag Composite Nanoparticles and Their Application as High-Performance Catalysts

In the present research, magnetically recyclable polyphosphazene (PCTP)/Ag (MPCTP-Ag) nanoparticles are prepared by a green path, in which PCTP was used to modify Fe3O4 nanoparticles and provide nucleation sites for the reduction of Ag nanoparticles. The prepared MPCTP-Ag nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, SEM, EDS, BET, XRD, vibrating sample magnometry, XPS, and TGA analysis. The catalytic performances of the MPCTP-Ag nanoparticles for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and their mixtures in the presence of NaBH4 were studied. The main factors affecting the catalytic performance, including temperature, reactant concentration, and catalyst dosage, were investigated. The results showed that the MPCTP-Ag nanoparticles exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the degradation of all three targeted organic contaminants (4-NP, MB, and MO). Moreover, the product retains its catalytic activity after being reused five times by magnetic separation. The results showed that MPCTP-Ag composite nanoparticles were efficient recyclable magnetic nanocatalysts with promising application in environment protection.