Synthesis of Cu ₂ O‐loaded perlite granules as floating catalysts for the rapid reduction of 4‐nitroaniline

Abstract In this study, we aimed to synthesize heterogeneous and recoverable Cu 2 O‐loaded perlite catalysts for the rapid conversion of 4‐nitroaniline to p ‐phenylenediamine utilizing NaBH 4 as a reducing agent. The catalysts were prepared by immobilizing Cu(OH) 2 onto perlite granules at varying Cu 2+ molar concentrations, followed by reduction with ascorbic acid. These materials were characterized using XRD, FESEM, EDS, FTIR and N 2 adsorption‐desorption techniques. The experimental results revealed that increasing the Cu 2+ concentration in the synthesis solution significantly enhanced the Cu 2 O content on the perlite surface, as well as the roughness and specific surface area of the catalysts. These improvements in structure and surface properties led to a marked increase in catalytic activity, enabling the complete conversion of 4‐nitroaniline to p ‐phenylenediamine within just 2 min. Notably, the incorporation of perlite allowed the catalysts to float on the water surface, facilitating easy recovery and reuse.