Selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol by reduced graphene oxide supported platinum nanoparticles

Abstract

The Pt/rGO nanocatalyst was synthesized by the immobilization method by deposition of platinum nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a support material. The support (rGO) was prepared from the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) by the reducing agent sodium borohydride (NaBH4), while (GO) was prepared from the graphite oxidation using the modified Hummer method. Morphological, chemical and structural characteristics of synthesized samples were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), transmittance Scanning Microscope (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray and Raman Spectroscopy. The performance of the Pt/rGO catalysts were evaluated in the benzyl alcohol oxidation to produce benzaldehyde using an environmentally friendly oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide, under moderate conditions. The variables that were studied on oxidation of benzyl alcohol were temperature, catalyst mass and H2O2 concentration. The best results were achieved when the catalyst amount was 10 mg, 50% hydrogen peroxide concentration and 80 °C reaction temperature. The conditions under which the reaction was carried out are moderate reaction conditions, and the oxidizing agent (H2O2) is an environmentally friendly oxidizing agent.