Catalytic application of silver nanoparticles immobilized to rice husk-SiO2-aminopropylsilane composite as recyclable catalyst in the aqueous reduction of nitroarenes
In the present work, amorphous silica nanoparticles were taken from low-cost rice husk (RH-SiO2) by carrying out an acid chemical treatment followed by the process of burning. The nanoparticles were modified with aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) using sol-gel method. The target nanocomposite (RHPrNH2@Ag) was formed by embedding the silver nanoparticles into the rice husk propylamine composite (RHPrNH2). The catalytic activity of RHPrNH2@Ag nanocomposite was successfully tested in the aqueous reduction of nitroarenes to the corresponding amines by using NaBH4 as reducing agent. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.