Simultaneous reduction of 4-nitrophenol, 4-nitroaniline and methylene blue organic pollutants via TiO2 supported Pd(II) complex catalyst bearing 2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole type ligand

Abstract

In this study, 2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole derivative ligand (L) and its Pd(II) complex (Pd(L)Cl2) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The crystal structure of L was characterized by X-ray diffraction method, and the structural, spectroscopic and electronic properties were obtained using density functional method (DFT). The catalyst material of the Pd(II) complex was prepared by attaching the complex to the titanium dioxide (TiO2) inorganic support material at a ratio 15 % (15 % Pd(L)Cl2-TiO2). 15 % Pd(L)Cl2-TiO2 catalyst material was characterized by FT-IR, TG, SEM-EDX and XRD analysis methods and used as catalyst in the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) and methylene blue (MB) organic pollutants. High conversion values were obtained for the reduction of 4-NP, 4-NA and MB substrates by 15 % Pd(L)Cl2-TiO2 catalyst material as a synergistic result of the unique catalytic properties of the Pd metal and the photocatalyst property of the TiO2 semiconductor that used as the inorganic support material.