A versatile hydrogel template for metal nano particle preparation and their use in catalysis

We report the synthesis of a novel bulk hydrogel based on acrylamidoglycolic acid (AAGA) and its use as a template in the preparation of different metal nanoparticles . Furthermore, we demonstrate the efficient utilization of p(AAGA) composite hydrogel as a reactor vessel in the reduction of an organic contaminant , 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP). The swelling characteristics of the hydrogel at different pH and different concentrations of salts (NaNO 3, NaCI) were studied, and experimental molecular mass between crosslink ( M c ) values was calculated. Experimental parameters that affect the 4-NP reduction rate such as temperature, amount of catalysis, co-catalysis, concentrations of 4-NP and of NaBH 4 were investigated. The kinetics of the reduction reaction under different reaction conditions was also evaluated to determine the activation parameters. Activation energy for the reduction of 4-NP was 33.783 kJ mol −1 and p(AAGA)–Ag composites possessed 88% activity at the end of five repetitive uses.