Magnetically recoverable AlFe/Te nanocomposite as a new catalyst for the facile esterification reaction under neat conditions

In this work, a new Fe3O4/AlFe/Te nanocomposite was synthesized by a one-step sol-gel method. The Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared and then mixed with aluminum telluride (Al2Te3) in an alkali medium to produce the desired catalyst. After characterization of the Fe3O4/AlFe/Te nanocomposite by SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, and ICP analyses, it was used in the esterification reaction. This heterogeneous catalyst showed high catalytic activity in the esterification of commercially available carboxylic acids with various alcohols to produce the desired esters at high conversions under neat conditions. The Fe3O4/AlFe/Te nanocomposites were separated from the reaction mixture via an external magnet and re-used 8 times without significant loss of catalytic activity.