A Tandem Adsorption-Catalysis Strategy for the Removal of Copper Ions and Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol

Abstract In this work, a consecutive adsorption-catalysis approach to remove Cu2+ ions and catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) is proposed. Attapulgite (ATP) nanorods are utilized as adsorbents to enrich Cu2+ ions from contaminated water. Subsequently, the adsorbed ions were in situ reduced to construct Cu-loaded ATP catalysts. The catalytic activities of the composite ATP-Cu catalysts are evaluated by 4-NP reduction in the presence of NaBH4. The optimal ATP-Cu50 sample prepared by putting ATP into a 50 mg L–1 CuSO4 solution could complete the catalytic reaction within 4 min. Moreover, the Cu-deposited ATP nanorods can be integrated into a continuous flow catalytic system, and the 4-NP can be rapidly reduced. This method sheds lights on the fabrication of ATP-based hybrid catalysts and the removal of multiple water pollutants.