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Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry
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Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanostructured Catalysts".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 6637

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Elisabete C.B.A. Alegria

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: sustainable homogeneous and supported catalysis; oxidation catalysis; green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles; mechanochemistry (synthesis and catalysis); molecular electrochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to invite you to contribute to the upcoming Special Issue "Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry," where we aim to showcase cutting-edge research at the intersection of nanotechnology and environmentally friendly chemistry. As the Guest Editor, I recognize the indispensable role that nanocatalysts play in advancing sustainable practices within chemical processes. This Special Issue provides a unique platform for researchers to disseminate their pioneering findings, methodologies, and advancements in the design and application of novel nanocatalysts, with a dedicated emphasis on promoting green and sustainable chemistry.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

- The synthesis and characterization of new nanocatalysts;

- Catalytic processes for green and sustainable chemistry;

- The environmental impact and life cycle analysis of nanocatalysts;

- The integration of nanotechnology in industrial processes for eco-friendly production.

Contributions from diverse perspectives and research backgrounds are highly encouraged to foster a comprehensive understanding of this crucial field. Join us in shaping the future of sustainable chemistry by submitting your latest research to this Special Issue. I look forward to your valuable contributions.

Dr. Elisabete C.B.A. Alegria
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanocatalysis
  • sustainable chemistry
  • nanostructured catalyst design
  • biocompatible nanocatalysts
  • eco-friendly catalytic processes
  • industrial sustainability
  • nanomaterials for carbon capture
  • green nanotechnology

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2518 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Cobalt, Nickel, and Palladium Complexes as Catalysts for the Hydrogenation and Improvement of Oxidative Stability of Biodiesel
by Fortunate P. Sejie, Olayinka A. Oyetunji, Banothile C. E. Makhubela, James Darkwa and Nora H. de Leeuw
Catalysts 2024, 14(9), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14090653 - 23 Sep 2024
Viewed by 803
Abstract
Developing effective catalysts that can selectively hydrogenate C=C bonds in biodiesel samples is vital as it tackles the major problem of oxidative stability, which greatly limits the utilization of biodiesel as an alternative fuel. In this work, Co, Ni, and Pd catalysts stabilized [...] Read more.
Developing effective catalysts that can selectively hydrogenate C=C bonds in biodiesel samples is vital as it tackles the major problem of oxidative stability, which greatly limits the utilization of biodiesel as an alternative fuel. In this work, Co, Ni, and Pd catalysts stabilized with the bidentate nitrogen ligands N-(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl)pyridin-2-ylmethylimine and N-(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl)picolinamide were synthesized, characterized, and used as pre-catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of C=C bonds in fatty acid methyl esters. The active catalysts from the Co, Ni, and Pd complexes sequentially hydrogenate the C18:2 chains to C18:1, which is further converted to C18:0 in the FAMEs of both methyl linoleate and jatropha biodiesel. The hydrogenation process was kinetically controlled, and after 3 h it yielded a biodiesel sample that contained 25.83% C16:0, 12.52% C18:2, 41.54% C18:1, 14.47% C18:0 and 3.0% C18:2 isomers. The un-hydrogenated jatropha diesel, hydrogenated jatropha diesel, and a B20 blend of jatropha were tested for susceptibility to oxidation reactions using the Rancimat method and FTIR spectroscopy, and the partial hydrogenation had improved the induction period by 3 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry)
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14 pages, 28964 KiB  
Article
The Contradicting Influences of Silica and Titania Supports on the Properties of Au0 Nanoparticles as Catalysts for Reductions by Borohydride
by Gifty Sara Rolly, Alina Sermiagin, Krishnamoorthy Sathiyan, Dan Meyerstein and Tomer Zidki
Catalysts 2024, 14(9), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14090606 - 9 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 696
Abstract
This study investigates the significant impact of metal–support interactions on catalytic reaction mechanisms at the interface of oxide-supported metal nanoparticles. The distinct and contrasting effects of SiO2 and TiO2 supports on reaction dynamics using NaBD4 were studied and focused on [...] Read more.
This study investigates the significant impact of metal–support interactions on catalytic reaction mechanisms at the interface of oxide-supported metal nanoparticles. The distinct and contrasting effects of SiO2 and TiO2 supports on reaction dynamics using NaBD4 were studied and focused on the relative yields of [HD]/[H2] and [D2]/[H2]. The findings show a consistent increase in HD yields with rising [BD4−] concentrations. Notably, the sequence of HD yield enhancement follows the order of TiO2-Au0-NPs < Au0-NPs < SiO2-Au0-NPs. Conversely, the rate of H2 evolution during BH4- hydrolysis exhibits an inverse trend, with TiO2-Au0-NPs outperforming the others, followed by Au0-NPs and SiO2-Au0-NPs, demonstrating the opposing effects exerted by the TiO2 and SiO2 supports on the catalytic processes. Further, the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) confirms the catalytic mechanism, with TiO2-Au0-NPs demonstrating superior activity. The catalytic activity observed aligns with the order of TiO2-Au0-NPs > Au0-NPs > SiO2-Au0-NPs, suggesting that SiO2 donates electrons to Au0-NPs, while TiO2 withdraws them. It is of interest to note that two very different processes, that clearly proceed via different mechanisms, are affected similarly by the supports. This study reveals that the choice of support material influences catalytic activity, impacting overall yield and efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate support materials for tailored catalytic outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry)
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18 pages, 2411 KiB  
Article
Heterogeneous Photo-Fenton Degradation of Azo Dyes over a Magnetite-Based Catalyst: Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies
by Jackson Anderson S. Ribeiro, Júlia F. Alves, Bruno César B. Salgado, Alcineia C. Oliveira, Rinaldo S. Araújo and Enrique Rodríguez-Castellón
Catalysts 2024, 14(9), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14090591 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 895
Abstract
Textile wastewater containing dyes poses significant environmental hazards. Advanced oxidative processes, especially the heterogeneous photo-Fenton process, are effective in degrading a wide range of contaminants due to high conversion rates and ease of catalyst recovery. This study evaluates the heterogeneous photodegradation of the [...] Read more.
Textile wastewater containing dyes poses significant environmental hazards. Advanced oxidative processes, especially the heterogeneous photo-Fenton process, are effective in degrading a wide range of contaminants due to high conversion rates and ease of catalyst recovery. This study evaluates the heterogeneous photodegradation of the azo dyes Acid Red 18 (AR18), Acid Red 66 (AR66), and Orange 2 (OR2) using magnetite as a catalyst. The magnetic catalyst was synthesized via a hydrothermal process at 150 °C. Experiments were conducted at room temperature, investigating the effect of catalyst dosage, pH, and initial concentrations of H2O2 and AR18 dye. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies were performed at 25, 40, and 60 °C for the three azo dyes (AR18, AR66, and OR2) and the effect of the dye structures on the degradation efficiency was investigated. At 25 °C for 0.33 mmolL−1 of dye at pH 3.0, using 1.4 gL−1 of the catalyst and 60 mgL−1 of H2O2 under UV radiation of 16.7 mWcm−2, the catalyst showed 62.3% degradation for AR18, 79.6% for AR66, and 83.8% for OR2 in 180 min of reaction. The oxidation of azo dyes under these conditions is spontaneous and endothermic. The pseudo-first-order kinetic constants indicated a strong temperature dependence with an order of reactivity of the type OR2 > AR66 > AR18, which is associated with the molecular size, steric hindrance, aromatic conjugation, electrostatic repulsion, and nature of the acid–base interactions on the catalytic surface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry)
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24 pages, 5842 KiB  
Article
Porous Nanostructured Catalysts Based on Silicates and Their Surface Functionality: Effects of Silica Source and Metal Added in Glycerol Valorization
by José Vitor C. Carmo, Joabson Nogueira, Gabriela M. Bertoldo, Francisco E. Clemente, Alcineia C. Oliveira, Adriana F. Campos, Gian C. S. Duarte, Samuel Tehuacanero-Cuapa, José Jiménez-Jiménez and Enrique Rodríguez-Castellón
Catalysts 2024, 14(8), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14080526 - 15 Aug 2024
Viewed by 830
Abstract
A series of nanospherical-shaped silicates containing heteroatoms (Al, Zr or Ti) were successfully synthesized using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) or silica colloids as a silicon source. These metallosilicate nanospheres were used as silicon nutrients to obtain silicalite zeolites with micro-mesoporosity and improved textural properties. The [...] Read more.
A series of nanospherical-shaped silicates containing heteroatoms (Al, Zr or Ti) were successfully synthesized using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) or silica colloids as a silicon source. These metallosilicate nanospheres were used as silicon nutrients to obtain silicalite zeolites with micro-mesoporosity and improved textural properties. The results demonstrated that TEOS acted as a suitable silicon source to produce amorphous silicates and a spherical-type zeolite architecture with Zr and Ti heteroatoms included in their framework, with preferable particle size and crystallinity. The surface functionality of the mesostructured nanospheres and zeolite silicates provide active centers for the esterification of glycerol with acetic acid (EG) reaction. The dispersion of Cu entities on the surface of the zeolites achieved high glycerol conversions selectively producing triacetin in comparison with Fe counterparts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry)
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14 pages, 1950 KiB  
Article
One-Pot Phyto-Mediated Synthesis of Fe2O3/Fe3O4 Binary Mixed Nanocomposite Efficiently Applied in Wastewater Remediation by Photo-Fenton Reaction
by Amr A. Essawy, Tamer H. A. Hasanin, Modather. F. Hussein, Emam F. El Agammy and Abd El-Naby I. Essawy
Catalysts 2024, 14(7), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14070466 - 20 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1217
Abstract
A binary Fe2O3/Fe3O4 mixed nanocomposite was prepared by phyto-mediated avenue to be suited in the photo-Fenton photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) in the presence of H2O2. XRD and SEM analyses illustrated that [...] Read more.
A binary Fe2O3/Fe3O4 mixed nanocomposite was prepared by phyto-mediated avenue to be suited in the photo-Fenton photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) in the presence of H2O2. XRD and SEM analyses illustrated that Fe2O3 nanoparticles of average crystallite size 8.43 nm were successfully mixed with plate-like aggregates of Fe3O4 with a 15.1 nm average crystallite size. Moreover, SEM images showed a porous morphology for the binary Fe2O3/Fe3O4 mixed nanocomposite that is favorable for a photocatalyst. EDX and elemental mapping showed intense iron and oxygen peaks, confirming composite purity and symmetrical distribution. FTIR analysis displayed the distinct Fe-O assignments. Moreover, the isotherm of the developed nanocomposite showed slit-shaped pores in loose particulates within plate-like aggregates and a mesoporous pore-size distribution. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated the high thermal stability of the prepared Fe2O3/Fe3O4 binary nanocomposite. The optical properties illustrated a narrowing in the band gab (Eg = 2.92 eV) that enabled considerable absorption in the visible region of solar light. Suiting the developed binary Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanocomposite in the photo-Fenton reaction along with H2O2 supplied higher productivity of active oxidizing species and accordingly a higher degradation efficacy of MB. The solar-driven photodegradation reactions were conducted and the estimated rate constants were 0.002, 0.0047, and 0.0143 min−1 when using the Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanocomposite, pure H2O2, and the Fe2O3/Fe3O4/H2O2 hybrid catalyst, respectively. Therefore, suiting the developed binary Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanocomposite and H2O2 in photo-Fenton reaction supplied higher productivity of active oxidizing species and accordingly a higher degradation efficacy of MB. After being subjected to four photo-Fenton degradation cycles, the Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanocomposite catalyst still functioned admirably. Further evaluation of Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanocomposite in photocatalytic remediation of contaminated water using a mixture of MB and pyronine Y (PY) dyestuffs revealed substantial dye photodegradation efficiencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry)
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16 pages, 8685 KiB  
Article
Platinum-Modified Rod-like Titania Mesocrystals with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity
by Zhishun Wei, Yuanyuan Ji, Zuzanna Bielan, Xin Yue, Yuqi Xu, Jiajie Sun, Sha Chen, Guoqiang Yi, Ying Chang and Ewa Kowalska
Catalysts 2024, 14(4), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14040283 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1474
Abstract
Photocatalysis is considered as an environmentally friendly method for both solar energy conversion and environmental purification of water, wastewater, air, and surfaces. Among various photocatalytic materials, titania is still the most widely investigated and applied, but more efforts must be carried out considering [...] Read more.
Photocatalysis is considered as an environmentally friendly method for both solar energy conversion and environmental purification of water, wastewater, air, and surfaces. Among various photocatalytic materials, titania is still the most widely investigated and applied, but more efforts must be carried out considering the synthesis of highly efficient photocatalysts for multifarious applications. It is thought that nanoengineering design of titania morphology might be the best solution. Accordingly, here, titania mesocrystals, assembled from crystallographically oriented nanocrystals, have been synthesized by an easy, cheap, and “green” solvothermal method (without the use of surfactants and templates), followed by simple annealing. The obtained materials have been characterized by various methods, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). It has been found that the as-obtained photocatalysts exhibit a unique nanorod-like subunit structure with excellent crystalline and surface properties. However, pristine titania is hardly active for a hydrogen evolution reaction, and thus additional modification has been performed by platinum photodeposition (and silver as a reference). Indeed, the modification with only 2 wt% of noble metals results in a significant enhancement in activity, i.e., ca. 75 and 550 times by silver- and platinum-modified samples, respectively, reaching the corresponding reaction rates of 37 μmol h−1 and 276 μmol h−1. Additionally, titania mesocrystals exhibit high oxidation power under simulated solar light irradiation for the degradation of antibiotics within the tetracycline group (tetracycline (TC), ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR) and oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC)). It has been found that both experimental results and the density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the high ability of titania mesocrystals for oxidative decomposition of tetracycline antibiotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Nanocatalysts for Sustainable and Green Chemistry)
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