Development of Magnetizable, Nickel-Ferrite-Decorated Carbon Nanocomposites as Hydrogenation Catalyst for Aniline Synthesis.

Catalysts with magnetic properties can be easily recovered from the reaction medium without loss by using a magnetic field, which highly improves their applicability. To design such systems, we have successfully combined the magnetic properties of nickel ferrite nanoparticles with the positive properties of carbon-based catalyst supports. Amine-functionalized NiFeO nanoparticles were deposited on the surfaces of nitrogen-doped bamboo-like carbon nanotubes (N-BCNT) and carbon nanolayers (CNL) by using a coprecipitation process. The magnetizable catalyst supports were decorated by Pd nanoparticles, and their catalytic activity was tested through the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene (NB). By using the prepared catalysts, high nitrobenzene conversion (100% for 120 min at 333 K) and a high aniline yield (99%) were achieved. The Pd/NiFeO-CNL catalyst was remarkable in terms of stability during the reuse tests due to the strong interaction formed between the catalytically active metal and its support (the activity was retained during four cycles of 120 min at 333 K). Furthermore, despite the long-lasting mechanical stress, no significant palladium loss (only 0.08 wt%) was detected.