Urchin-like cobalt nanostructures for catalytic degradation of nitro anilines

The undertaken study describes synthesis of urchin-like Cobalt nanostructures (Co NSs) in aqueous solution using gallic acid as both reductant and protecting agent for the catalytic degradation of 4-methyle-2-nitroaniline. UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was used as a primary tool to elaborately study and optimizes the necessary experimental condition for the developed synthetic protocol Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed the interaction between gallic acid and the surface of Co NSs via -OH linkages although Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the formation of urchin shaped nanostructures with diameter in the range of 80-110 nm and length of tentacles between 1.0 - 1.8 μm. The as-synthesized Co NSs proved to be excellent heterogeneous catalyst for the 100 % reductive degradation of 4-methyle-2-nitroaniline in just 60 sec in presence of reductant (NaBH4) with reaction rate calculated to follow pseudo first order kinetic and rate constant of 0.055s-1. Furthermore, Co NSs, showed excellent recyclability and were reused four times for the degradation of 4-methyle-2-nitroaniline with efficiency that displayed negligible catalytic poisoning.