Date palm endocarp film and chitosan coated date palm endocarp film stabilized silver nanoparticles for the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol

This study employs cellulose-based date palm endocarp film (DPEF) and chitosan-coated date palm endocarp film (CS-DPEF) as supporting matrices for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), iron nanoparticles (FeNPs), and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). The prepared AgNPs@DPEF, AgNPs@CS-DPEF, CuNPs@DPEF, CuNPs@CS-DPEF, FeNPs@DPEF, and FeNPs@CS-DPEF were subsequently utilized in reduction studies to evaluate their catalytic capabilities. AgNPs@DPEF and AgNPs@CS-DPEF were more efficient and further their selectivity was investigated by comparing their efficiency in facilitating the transformation of various dyes and p-nitrophenol (p-NP). Remarkably, AgNPs@DPEF and AgNPs@CS-DPEF achieved high catalytic activity in the reduction reaction of p-NP with removal efficiencies of 86.74 % and 95.36 %, respectively. The absorption spectra of p-NP exhibited a characteristic band at 317 nm, which underwent a redshift to 400 nm following the addition of NaBH₄, signifying the generation of the p-nitrophenolate ion. The subsequent incorporation of the catalyst promoted its conversion into p-aminophenol. The catalytic conversion of p-NP by AgNPs@DPEF and AgNPs@CS-DPEF followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model, with estimated rate constants of 7.466 × 10⁻⁵ min⁻¹ and 7 × 10⁻⁵ min⁻¹ , respectively. Optimal p-NP removal was observed under the following conditions: 10 mg of catalyst, an initial p-NP concentration of 0.1 mM, the introduction of 0.5 mL NaBH₄ at a concentration of 0.1 M, and 25 °C. Additionally, AgNPs@DPEF and AgNPs@CS-DPEF catalysts retained substantial reduction efficiency across four reuse cycles, underscoring their potential for effective p-NP remediation. Catalyst recovery was readily achieved by removing simply the materials from the reaction medium following completion. • Date Palm Endocarp Film and chitosan were used as stabilizing support for AgNPs. • Efficient p-NP reduction was achieved by AgNPs@DPEF and AgNPs@CS-DPEF. • Reusability of designed catalyst was applied for four cycles.