(354l) Catalytically Active Asymmetric Membranes for Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol

Catalytically active asymmetric membranes were developed with low amounts of PdNPs located solely on the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane surface. The catalytic membrane reactor formation involves a three-step procedure including the use of ozone for PDMS crosslinking and hydroxyl group formation; surface grafting of aminosilane with hydroxyl derived-PDMS/PAIHF; and PdNPs immobilization using salicylic aldehyde. The reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP), a part of the catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds, is served as the standard for testing nanostructured catalysts and exploiting the study of catalytic activities. The effects of 4-NP concentration (0.5-4 mM) and flow rate (0.01-0.08 cm³min^-1) on 4-NP conversion and 4-AP selectivity were evaluated in both batch and continuous-flow systems. The results demonstrate that this continuous-flow catalytic system can be recycled and reused over multiple cycles without any significant loss in activity. It is compatible with current membrane manufacturing processes to use for other metals to tackle the demands of different chemical transformation and water treatment systems.

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