A study on the high efficiency reduction of p-nitrophenol (4-NP) by a Fe(OH)3/Fe2O3@Au composite catalyst

Precious metal nanometric catalysts are widely used in the removal of harmful substances. In the process of synthesis and catalytic reaction, it is particularly important to study green and simple synthesis methods and high catalytic efficiency. In this paper, a green one-step method was used to synthesize the Fe(OH)3/Fe2O3@Au composite catalyst, in which Au was single atom-dispersed. The removal of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), a typical dangerous chemical widely existing in factory waste gas, waste water and automobile exhaust gas, was catalysed by Fe(OH)3/Fe2O3@Au. The catalytic performance of Fe(OH)3/Fe2O3@Au with different synthesis conditions (different amounts of MES, NaBH4, FeSO4, Au and Pt) on the 4-NP reduction reaction were systematically studied. Finally, the stability and recyclability of Fe(OH)3/Fe2O3@Au composite nanocatalyst were investigated thoroughly.