Iranian Journal of Catalysis (IJC) publishes experimental and theoretical research results of outstanding significance in the field of catalysts and their application in organic, inorganic, bioorganic, analytical, polymer, and other branches of chemistry. The scope of IJC includes homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, catalytic reactions, computational catalysis, synthesis and catalytic function of novel inorganic solids and complexes, enzymatic catalysis, and spectroscopic methods for structural characterization. Journal DOI: 10.57647/IJC Journal Abbreviation: Iran J Catal Journal Title Acronym: IJC Owner organisation: Islamic Azad University-Shahreza Branch Publisher: Islamic Azad University-Shahreza Branch, Co-publishing, OICC Press, UK IJC is an open access, peer-reviewed journal (double-blinded), meaning that all interested readers can freely access the journal online at https://oiccpress.com/iranian-journal-of-catalysis/ without needing a subscription. All manuscripts and revisions will undergo plagiarism check using similarity detection systems such as iThenticate, along with other available tools. In Addition, the “Iranian Journal of Catalysis” has been indexed on the “Web of Science“. The “Iranian Journal of Catalysis” is now included in the Journal Impact Factor List of “Clarivate”, 2023. (JCR) The “Iranian Journal of Catalysis” has become a member of COPE, the Committee on Publication Ethics, since January 2013. Latest News: We would like to inform all authors and contributors that, effective 1st November 2025, an Article Processing Charge (APC) will apply to all new submissions, manuscripts submitted on or after this date that are accepted for publication in the Iranian Journal of Catalysis (IJC).
Effect of Hematite Crystallinity on Catalytic Performance in the Heterogeneous Photo-Fenton Degradation of para-Nitrophenol
This study explores the effect of hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) crystallinity on the heterogeneous photo-Fenton degradation of para-nitrophenol (PNP). Hematite was synthesized by precipitating FeCl₃ with NaOH, followed by oven drying at 100°C and calcination at 250°C and 500°C to obtain catalysts with different crystallinity levels. The degradation was carried out under UV irradiation in the presence of H₂O₂ and hematite, with optimization of catalyst dosage, H₂O₂ concentration, initial pH, and irradiation time. The catalysts were characterized by XRF, XRD, BET, FTIR, and UV-Vis DRS. XRD and FTIR confirmed that higher calcination temperatures promoted crystallinity and phase purity, while BET analysis showed that elevated temperatures reduced surface area due to particle growth and sintering. UV-Vis DRS revealed band gap narrowing with increased crystallinity. Among the catalysts, hematite calcined at 250°C displayed moderate crystallinity, mesoporosity (2.9 nm), and the largest surface area (70.89 m²/g), achieving the highest PNP degradation (98.89%) at pH 6. In contrast, the oven-dried and highly crystalline (500°C) hematite exhibited lower catalytic performance. The 250°C catalyst also showed stability with minimal Fe leaching. These results highlight that moderate crystallinity optimizes catalytic activity and demonstrate the potential of engineered hematite as an efficient and reusable catalyst for sustainable water treatment. Highlights Hematite crystallinity controlled by calcination influences photo-Fenton activity Hematite calcined at 250 °C shows highest PNP degradation efficiency (98.89%) Moderate crystallinity balances surface area and band gap for optimal performance Catalyst stable with minimal Fe leaching, effective at near-neutral pH (3–6) Demonstrates potential of hematite as low-cost, reusable water treatment catalyst
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Catalytic activities of fluorescent covalent organic frameworks
The seminal work conducted by Yaghi and his colleagues in 2005 led to the development of a novel class of crystalline porous organic materials, termed covalent organic frameworks (COFs). These frameworks are composed of organic building blocks connected by strong covalent bonds to form two (2D) and/or three-dimensional (3D) networks. These 2D or 3D networks give rise to a wide variety of morphological structures, including cavities, nanosheets, films, pores, spheres, membranes, tubes, shuttles, foams, belts, and fibers. This discovery opened new horizons, as the flexibility of covalent bonds allowed chemists to turn their conceptual molecular architecture into reality. The most common reactions lead to the formation of covalent linkages such as B–O, B–N, C–N, C=C, C≡C, and C–O.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zahra Alishahi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The effect of the shapes of Zinc oxide nanoparticles on antibacterial and photocatalytic activity via an eco-friendly method
Mitigating the environmental risks associated with the chemical fabrication of nanoparticles is a pressing necessity. The green synthesis approach is considered a more secure alternative for nanoparticle production due to its cost efficiency, non-toxic nature, and eco-friendliness. Numerous elements influence the efficacy of nanoparticles; notably, the shape of these particles plays a crucial role, as their geometry can dictate their interactions with external factors, including biological organisms and water pollutants. For synthesizing Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnOn), Fig leaf extract was employed, which possesses antifungal, anti-helminthic, and acetylcholinesterase-inhibitory properties. For the first time in his work, he created different shapes of ZnOn with the same co-precipitation procedure and different calcination temperatures (200 °C, 400 °C, and 600 °C). To explore the impact of nanoparticle shape, a range of analytical methods has been utilized. The crystallite sizes of ZnOn were measured using the Debye-Scherrer method at forms of nanoflake, cylinder, and sphere, yielding 25.34 nm, 42.49 nm, and 43.52 nm, respectively. Moreover, UV-vis spectroscopy has identified a peak absorption wavelength of around 380, and characterizes the optical properties of ZnOn. Spherical nanoparticles exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity efficiency, reaching 88% in the first 60 min for ZnOn. The investigation focuses on the degradation process of methylene orange. Anti-microbial characteristics against the gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (S. aureus) are examined by the MIC test for three samples of ZnOn.
Anti-microbial activity, Fig leaf extract, Green synthesis, Photocatalytic activity, Zinc oxide nanoparticles
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Fabrication of g-C3N4/Cu-MOF/Nd2O3@NiO Nanocomposite for Dual Photocatalytic Applications: Methylene Blue Degradation and Hydrogen Peroxide Production
In the present report, a novel photocatalyst g-C3N4/Cu-MOF/Nd2O3@NiO was prepared using g-C3N4, Cu-MOF, and Nd2O3@NiO as the individual components using an ultrasonic-assisted wet-impregnation method. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis of the nanocomposite and its individual components were performed for vibrational, morphological, structural, and elemental characterization, respectively. The appearance of vibrational bands at 813 cm-1 for g-C3N4, 665 cm-1 for the Nd-O, 511 cm-1 for NiO, and 599 cm-1 for Cu-O indicates preparation of g-C3N4/Cu-BDC/Nd2O3@NiO nanocomposite. An irregular flake-like morphology of the nanocomposite was observed in SEM images. The appearance of sharp peaks in X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the crystalline nature of the nanocomposite and its individual components. EDX analysis indicated the presence of all elements that made up the composition of the nanocomposite and its individual components. A comprehensive photocatalytic study using nanocomposite and its individual components as photocatalysts was conducted on the degradation of Methylene blue (MB) as a target pollutant. The results indicated that the nanocomposite degraded the target pollutant more efficiently than its individual components at various parameters such as pH, time, concentration of catalyst, and pollutant. The nanocomposite showed maximum degradation of 91% at pH 11, a catalyst dose of 10 mg, and 140 minutes of irradiation time in sunlight. The nanocomposite and its individual components were also tested for the production of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), and a higher production rate of 0.19 mg/L was obtained by the nanocomposite.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, Multicomponent Photocatalyst, Methylene blue, Neodymium Oxide, Photocatalytic Degradation
Linking Quantum Chemistry and Electrochemistry: Interfacial ORR Mediated by tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and Proton Shuttle di-pyridinamine (DPA)
This study investigates the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the water 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) interface using tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) as an electron mediator and 2,2-dipyridylamine (DPA) as a proton shuttle, combining electrochemical measurements with Hartree-Fock and DFT calculations. TCNQ facilitates interfacial electron transfer, exhibiting reversible stepwise reductions (TCNQ/TCNQ⁻/TCNQ²⁻) with rate constants of ~7×10⁻3 to 1.5×10⁻1 cm s⁻¹, while quantum chemical analysis reveals its modest proton affinity (PA ~16–95 kJ mol⁻¹ for mono-protonated form) and weak aqueous basicity (pKₐ >12), confirming its primary role in electron mediation rather than protonation. DPA addition (2.4–5.6 ×10⁻⁶ M) enhances cathodic/anodic peak currents in cyclic voltammetry, enabling proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) that boosts H₂O₂ yield from 38% (4 mM) (TCNQ alone) to 78% (8 mM) via synergistic proton relay, as validated by iodometric assays and a proposed mechanism involving O₂ → O₂⁻ → HO₂. These findings highlight a cooperative molecular relay at soft interfaces, offering design principles for efficient biphasic electrocatalysts in energy applications.
Liquid–Liquid Interface (ITIES), Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR), Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer (PCET), Proton Affinity (PA), Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ)
Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles Using Madhuca longifolia Flowers for Enhanced Photodegradation and Antibacterial Applications
The present study involves green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using aqueous Madhuca Longifolia flower extract from hydrothermal synthesis. The ZnO NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible studies, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR, SEM, and EDAX. The NPs were evaluated for photodegradative and antimicrobial activities. UV–visible absorption of ZnO NPs showed an absorption band at 356 nm, which can be assigned to an effective formation of ZnO NPs having appreciable activity in the visible range, confirmed by the Tauc plot showing a 3.21 eV band gap. TEM image confirms the formation of nanoparticles, and the average crystallite sizes were found to be 17-20 nm. Eosin Blue (EB) dye was effectively degraded under sunlight in the minimum quantity of ZnO NPs. Excellent bactericidal activity was shown by the NPs on Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus ATCC13061, Staphylococcus saprophyticus KCTC3345) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli KCTC1682, Salmonella typhimurium KCCM11862) bacteria. Synthesis of multifunctional ZnO NPs using naturally occurring M. longifolia plant flower has been an excellent, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical methods.
Eco-Friendly Fabrication of Ag-Ni Bimetallic Nanocatalyst for Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol and Photodegradation of Crystal Violet Dye with Antibacterial Applications
The facile and efficient green method for the synthesis of Ag based bimetallic nanoparticles Ag-Ni is developed by using sprout water extract. The phytochemical present in the sprout water extract assist the reduction of both the metal simultaneously according to their reduction potential and provides the way for seedless, one pot green synthesis. In the present study sprout water was used for the synthesis of Ag, Ni monometallic and bimetallic Ag25Ni75, Ag50Ni50, Ag75Ni25 because synergistic effect of two metal provides enhancement in catalytic properties of bimetallic nanoparticles. The synthesized nanocatalyst were further characterized by UV-visible analysis, XRD, EDX, NTA, TEM. The nanocatalyst is used for the reduction of organic pollutants like degradation of crystal violet dye and 4-nitrophenol. The nanoparticles were investigated for their antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. The Ag25Ni75 shows outstanding performance for the reduction of 4-Nitrophenol. It will reduce 84.69 % of 4- nitrophenol just in 60 second with constant 0.70 min-1. The order of the reaction is pseudo first order. The Ag75Ni25 shows excellent efficiency for the degradation of 66.37% crystal violet dye in 3 hrs following pseudo first order reaction with rate constant 0.007733min-1. The Ag75Ni25 exhibits more zone of inhibition in B. subtilis, S. aureus, S. typhi, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli 15.36 ± 0.28 mm, 15.23 ± 0.15 mm, 15.40 ± 0.20 mm, 15.33± 0.23 mm, 15.40 ± 0.20 mm than monometallic silver and nickel.
Bimetallic nanoparticles, Green synthesis, Crystal violet dye degradation, Antibacterial activity, Pseudo first order kinetic, Organic pollutants, 4-Nitrophenol reduction
Fluorescent Metal–organic Frameworks (FL-MOFs): Multi-purpose Compounds
Mahrokh Farrokh was born in Qom, Iran, in 1999. She received her B.Sc. in Applied Chemistry (2022) from Bu-Ali Sina University, Iran. She received her M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry (2024) under the supervision of Prof. Mohammad Ali Zolfigol and Prof. Maryam Hajjami. Also, she was also accepted for a Ph. D. in organic chemistry at the Bu-Ali Sina University in the same year. Her research interest is the synthesis, characterization and applications of homogeneous and heterogeneous reagents and catalysts in organic synthesis.
Functionalizing Fullerene Soot Nanoparticles with Energetic Groups Using Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Deboration of Nitrophenylboronic Acid
In this study, 4-nitrophenylboronic acid is used as a radical precursor for functionalizing fullerene soot nanoparticles with 4-nitrophenyl and 4-nitrophenoxy groups. The oxidative deboration of 4-nitrophenylboronic acid for the formation of 4-nitrophenyl radical is carried out by employing potassium persulfate as oxidant and copper (II) sulfate as catalyst dissolved in water/dichloromethane under autoclave, oil-bath, or microwave heating conditions. The 4-nitrophenoxy radical is formed from the corresponding phenolic byproduct in the presence of persulfate/copper (II). The potentially energetic solid containing 4-nitrophenoxy groups involved in ether linkages is produced in the absence of fullerene soot. The 4-nitrophenyl and 4-nitrophenoxy radicals are efficiently trapped in the presence of fullerene soot to eventually afford samples with high nitrogen contents. The reaction conditions are optimized against temperature, time, and the amounts of starting materials. The characterization of products is performed by EDX and elemental maps, FT-IR, XRD, FESEM, and TGA-DSC. Results show that the oxidative deboration reaction can occur even in the absence of a catalyst. However, copper (II) catalyst can be used to obtain samples with more nitrogen content (up to 19.60 wt.% by EDX line scan) and better energetic performance. DSC thermograms of these samples exhibit a significant exothermic peak assigned to the decomposition of energetic groups. Highlights · 4-Nitrophenylboronic acid is used as radical precursor for functionalizing fullerene soot. · The oxidative deboration of 4-nitrophenylboronic acid is carried out by employing potassium persulfate as oxidant and copper(II) sulfate as catalyst. · Cupper(II) catalyst can be used to obtain samples with more nitrogen content (up to 19.60 wt.%) and better energetic performance. · The samples prepared in the longer reaction times and the higher temperatures have more energetic properties. · The sample prepared in the presence of catalyst in oil-bath has higher nitrogen content and better energetic performance among others. · The equiv. ratio of 1:3:0.2 for reactant, oxidant and catalyst is preferred. · These findings may be helpful for the development of novel energetic compositions from carbon nanomaterials.
Arylboronic acid, Aryl and aryloxy radicals, Energetic groups, Fullerene soot nanoparticles, Oxidative deboration, Persulfate/copper(II),
Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Turquoise Blue G (TBG) Dye Using Cu:ZnO/TiO2 Nanoheterojunction Photocatalyst
Pure TiO2, ZnO, ZnO/TiO2, and Cu doped ZnO/TiO2 (Cu:ZnO/TiO2) heterojunctions (Type II) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized using a cost-effective room-temperature sol-gel (RTSG) method. Copper (Cu) doping levels ranged from 3 to 9 wt% relative to ZnO. The structural, morphological, optical, and surface chemical properties were characterized using XRD, FESEM, UV–Vis spectroscopy, XPS, and FTIR. Among all samples, 7 wt% Cu:ZnO/TiO2 exhibited a prominent red shift in the absorption edge (from 388.7 to 413.33 nm) and a narrowed band gap of 3.0 eV compared to 3.19 eV for pure TiO2, indicating enhanced visible-light absorption. This optimized photocatalyst demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic efficiency for the first-time degradation of Turquoise Blue G (TBG) dye, achieving 95% degradation within 2.5 h under UV irradiation-1.52 times higher than pure TiO2. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) decreased by 77.78%, confirming effective mineralization. Kinetic analysis revealed that the degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, validating the reaction’s rate dependence on dye concentration. The recycled photocatalyst retained 84.3% degradation efficiency and 60% COD reduction, indicating excellent reusability. Furthermore, the highest adsorption capacity was observed at lower pH (pH 4), favoring electrostatic attraction. These results establish 7% Cu:ZnO/TiO2 as a robust, reusable, and highly efficient photocatalyst for sustainable dye wastewater treatment. Highlights · A novel 7% Cu:ZnO/TiO₂ (with copper doping concentrations varying from 3 wt% to 9 wt%) heterojunction (Type II) photocatalyst synthesized via a cost-effective room-temperature sol-gel method. · Enhanced visible-light absorption with band gap reduction from 3.19 eV to 3.0 eV. · This optimized photocatalyst demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic efficiency for the first-time degradation of Turquoise Blue G (TBG) dye, achieving 95% degradation within 2.5 h under UV irradiation-1.52 times higher than pure TiO2. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) decreased by 77.78%, confirming effective mineralization. · Photocatalytic degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with excellent reusability (84.3% after recycling). · Maximum adsorption capacity observed at lower pH (pH 4) with COD reduction up to 77.78%.
Type II heterojunction photocatalyst; Sol-gel method; Turquoise blue G (TBG) dye; Photocatalytic degradation
Iron catalysed decarboxylative oxidation photocatalysis of alpha-carbon to access aldehyde/ketone from aryl aliphatic carboxylic acid
Carbonyl-containing compounds, such as aldehydes and ketones, are fundamental to synthetic organic chemistry, with wide-ranging applications in the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, we introduce an efficient and streamlined metallophotoredox approach for decarboxylative oxygenation via visible-light-induced ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT). Our method simplifies the transformation of aryl aliphatic carboxylic acids into their corresponding aryl aldehydes and ketones, utilizing iron(III) triflate as a photo catalyst in the presence of TMEDA as a ligand. This strategy not only enhances environmental sustainability but also expands the potential for late-stage functionalization of complex molecules and bioactive compounds.
Iron (III) triflate, metallophotoredox, decarboxylative oxygenation, carboxylic acid, aldehyde, ketone
Evaluation of Fe-Cu catalysts supported on magnesium oxide in methane combustion reaction
The catalytic performance of xFe/MgO (x=10, 15, 20 wt.%) and Cu-promoted 15Fe-yCu/MgO (y=3, 5 wt.%) catalysts, fabricated via impregnation techniques on a precipitation-derived MgO support, was investigated for methane combustion. Maximum activity was observed for the 20Fe/MgO formulation, exhibiting light-off temperatures T₁₀ and T₅₀ of 412°C and 463°C, respectively. This superior activity is correlated with its physicochemical properties, namely a high specific surface area (49.70 m²·g⁻¹), small crystallite size (22 nm), and presence of abundant Fe active sites on the surface of MgO or within Mg₁₋ₓFeₓO solid solution. In contrast, Cu promotion detrimentally affected performance, an effect ascribed to the blockage or fundamental alteration of the active sites and agglomeration of particles. The 20Fe/MgO catalyst further demonstrated notable operational stability, maintaining >80% CH₄ conversion during a 25-hour time-on-stream analysis at 550°C. XRD characterization of the spent catalyst indicated progression of solid solution formation following the reaction.
Methane combustion, Fe-Cu catalysts, MgO, Precipitation, Solid solution
Synthesis of Iron and Nickel- Based Catalysts for Levulinic Acid Production from Cellulose and Glucose
The study explores the catalytic performance of nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe)-based catalysts synthesized through precipitation, activation by hydrothermal reaction, and calcination for the conversion of cellulose and glucose into levulinic acid (LA). Characterization of the catalysts was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, which confirmed the formation of metal oxides, specifically NiO and Fe2O3, in the synthesized catalysts. The key experimental parameters, including catalyst loading, reaction temperature, and time, were optimized to improve the LA yield. The Fe. 75Ni catalyst achieved the highest catalytic activity, yielding 46.18% based on the theoretical yield or a weight percentage of 29.72 wt.% at a reaction time of 5 hours and 200°C reaction temperature using 0.30g of catalyst. The study highlights the importance of catalyst acidity, good surface area, and thermal stability in enhancing LA production and suggests that the Fe. 75Ni catalyst holds significant potential for efficient conversion of biomass. Highlights · Fe.75Ni catalyst achieved highest levulinic acid yield of 32.32% from glucose · High acidity and good surface area enhanced catalytic activity of Fe.75Ni · XRD and FTIR confirmed Fe2O3 and NiO existent in catalysts · Stability of catalysts confirmed by TGA and DTG up to 200 ºC · BET analysis showed Fe.75Ni and Ni had higher surface areas and pore volume
Conversion, Characterization, Heterogeneous catalyst, Levulinic acid, Metal oxide,
Catalytic Applications of Chiral Covalent Organic Frameworks
In recent decades, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) chemistry has emerged as one of the most exciting fields in chemistry. COFs are a class of regular organic structures composed of various organic units, including carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and boron, which are interconnected through covalent bonds. These unique materials have been widely applied in numerous research areas.
Carbon Spheres: As a Multiporpous Catalyst
Carbon is one of the oldest compounds that has been discovered. It is present in many organic structures. In addition, many carbon compounds have been discovered. Carbon spheres are spherical compounds that are a wide field of research for scientists. Materials made of carbon that can be synthesized and characterized at the nano level have become a mainstay in the nanotechnology arena.
Nitryl radical (NO2.): As an In-Situ Nitrating Agent
Nitro compounds are important chemicals that are used in a wide range of laboratories and industries to prepare pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and various useful materials. Also, many nitro compounds have explosive properties and are used in military industries. Therefore, nitration reactions are of great importance in the field of chemistry. Scientists are trying to find more demands for these compounds by studying their various aspects because they have a wide range of applications.
Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Mg0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Direct Red 31 Dye
An environmentally friendly synthesis method was used to produce Mg0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles, which were evaluated for their photocatalytic performance in degrading Direct Red 31 dye. The nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, BET, FESEM, EDX, TEM, DRS, and VSM. XRD results confirmed a single-phase spinel cubic structure with a crystallite size of 13 nm. The nanoparticles exhibited a narrow band gap of 1.75 eV, enabling efficient visible light absorption. Photocatalytic tests revealed 94% degradation of Direct Red 31 within 45 minutes. Kinetic analysis showed that the degradation followed a pseudo-first-order reaction. Furthermore, the nanoparticles demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining their photocatalytic efficiency over four consecutive cycles without any performance degradation, highlighting their strong potential for sustainable wastewater treatment applications.
Water Mediated Green and Efficient Synthesis of 2-Substituted Benzimidazole Derivatives Using Mandelic Acid as an Organo-Catalyst
An efficient and green protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives using various aromatic aldehydes and o-phenylenediamine (OPD) in aqueous medium. In this procedure, mandelic acid is used as an inexpensive and efficient organo-catalyst for the synthesis of various derivatives of 2-substituted benzimidazole (3a-3m) in excellent yields (88-93%). The present method affords noteworthy advantages of an organo-catalyst, such as being highly stable, environmentally benign, and commercially readily available, and water as a green reaction medium, with high conversions of the products. All products have been confirmed by their spectroscopic technique, such as 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Highlights · Benzimidazole and its derivatives are important in medicinal chemistry for building blocks of various drugs due to numerous clinical applications · An efficient and green protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives under metal-free conditions · In this methodology, mandelic acid used as organo-catalyst and water used as green reaction medium · This novel method has many significant features such as, greener, environmentally benign and high efficiency with high conversions of the products in excellent yield
Combustion Synthesis of BiCoO3 Using Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane as a Novel Fuel and its Catalytic Applications in the Synthesis of Tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran and Bis(pyrazolyl)methane Derivatives
BiCoO3 was successfully prepared through a novel combustion method using tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane as both a chelating agent and a fuel. Various calcination temperatures were investigated to obtain BiCoO3 nanoparticles in a single phase. The perovskite structure was characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and BET surface area measurement. Additionally, BiCoO3 was prepared by the co-precipitation method, and a comparative study of the structures obtained from both methods was performed by XRD analysis. The obtained BiCoO3 nanoparticles were used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans and 4,4-(arylmethylene)bis-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-ols). The reactions were carried out at reflux conditions, in a short reaction time, with high yields, high catalytic activity, and reusability. The catalyst also exhibited good stability, and it can be reused six times without losing activity in the reaction. Highlights · BiCoO3 perovskite was synthesized using the solution combustion method. · Tris was used as a fuel in the synthesis of BiCoO3. · BiCoO3 prepared by this method exhibits a desirable surface area and crystallite size. · BiCoO3 exhibited good catalytic activity in the synthesis of pyrans and bis(pyrazolyl)methanes. · XRD and EDS analysis confirm the phase pure composition of BiCoO3.
Introduction of a Nanocomposite of NiO/MgO for the Regioselective Synthesis of 1,4 Disubstituted- 1,2,3-Triazoles and Investigation of Antimicrobial Properties
In this research, an eco-friendly procedure is reported for the synthesis of NiO/MgO nanocomposite by the co-precipitation method. The obtained nanocomposite was characterized using FE-SEM, EDS, BET, XRD, and TGA analyses. The catalytic performance of the NiO/MgO nanocomposite was investigated in the regioselective synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles under mild conditions. The results revealed that the desired triazole derivatives were produced in high yields with excellent selectivity. The catalyst exhibited notable stability and recyclability over several cycles without significant loss of activity. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the NiO/MgO nanocomposite was evaluated against various bacterial strains, showing good inhibitory effects against the tested pathogens.
Antibacterial properties, 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles, Eco-friendly procedure, NiO/MgO nanocomposite, Regioselective synthesis.
Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Fe3O4@SiO2 Supported Schiff base-Cu(II) Complex as Recyclable Core-shell Nanocatalyst for Oxidative Amidation of Aromatic Aldehydes or Alcohols
A simple protocol is reported for the oxidative amidation of aromatic aldehydes or alcohols with amines to aromatic amides by a magnetic silica-supported copper complex of Schiff base as a heterogeneous solid catalyst using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent. Under optimized conditions, oxidative amidation of benzaldehyde or benzyl alcohol with morpholine is achieved using this nanostructured catalyst with 98% amide selectivity. In addition, this catalyst is used to convert a wide range of aldehydes to their respective amide derivatives. The catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction mixture using an external magnetic field and is reusable for up to five consecutive cycles. Its structural characteristics are thoroughly analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS).
Amides, Aromatic aldehydes, Hydrogen peroxide, Magnetite, Nano catalyst, Oxidative amidation, Schiff base,
Copyright (c) 2025 Fateme Behjati Ardakani, Mohammad Abdollahi-Alibeik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Solar-Driven Degradation of Anionic Dyes Using Ultrasonically Synthesized Trimetallic Doped ZnO-Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanocomposite Photocatalyst
We report an ultrasound-assisted green synthesis of 2% Bi2O3, Co3O4, and Fe2O3 co-doped ZnO/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites. Structural and physicochemical analyses (XRD, FTIR, SEM/EDS, UV–Vis DRS, BET) confirm uniform dopant incorporation, enhanced light harvesting, and increased surface area. Under natural sunlight, the composite achieved 98.1% degradation of Indigo Carmine and 94.8% degradation of Xylidine Ponceau within 90 min, as shown by UV–Vis and TOC measurements. Optimization of pH, catalyst loading, and dye concentration, coupled with radical scavenging assays, identified •OH radicals as the primary reactive species. The catalyst retained over 78% of its initial activity after four successive cycles, demonstrating outstanding stability and reusability. This work introduces a sustainable, low-energy route and a novel trimetallic doping strategy for efficient remediation of organic pollutants.
Copyright (c) 2025 Vaishali Sanjay Raut, Vishal Dnyaneshwar Pardeshi, Yogeshwar Rajaram Baste, Vijay Jotiba Naukudkar, Prashant Bhimrao Koli, Sachin Girdhar Shinde (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Greener synthesis of MNPs using Achyranthesaspera leaf extract: compared photocatalytic activity, reduction, and adsorption investigations for the environmental remediation
A greener method described using water extract leaves of Achyranthesaspera plant (Uttarani plant) employed for iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) preparation, and demonstrated application of the prepared NPs for dye removal from the contaminated water by photo chemically. The Achyranthes aspera leaves were used for the first time for the iron oxide NPs preparation as a biogenic method. The phytochemical present in the extracted solution served as a reducing agent, facilitating NPs formation. The prepared MNPs homogeneity was examined by FT-IR, UV-Vis, XRD, HR-SEM, and VSM analyses. Further, these MNPs were utilized for the decolourization of the industrial effluent (IE) and methylene blue (MB), and the catalytic reduction properties of 4-NA to 4-AA were evaluated. The decolourization of the MB and IE was monitored by UV-Vis, and followed by kinetic comparisons and HR-MS analysis, which revealed that adsorption takes place on the surface. Highlights · Novel greener method synthesis of magnetic nanoparticle described. · Prepared MNPs could decolorize MB and Industrial effluent dyes in the presence of sunlight. · Experimentally proved, the processes of adsorption of the dye take place on MNPs. · Also studied prepared MNPs can be used for the reduction of 4-nitroaniline to 4-amino aniline. · The prepared MNPs system revealed potential for the removal of MB and textile dye effluent.
Copyright (c) 2025 Raju Shekhanavar, Kantharaju Kamanna (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Tailoring Properties and Performance of Chromium Oxide based Catalysts for Sorbitol Hydrogenolysis
The study highlights the synthesis of Chromium Oxide Silica (CrSi) and Chromium Oxide Alumina (CrAl) catalysts using sol-gel and impregnation methods, respectively, and their evaluation in sorbitol hydrogenolysis. Characterization techniques such as nitrogen physisorption, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and TGA analyses were employed. CrSi exhibited a higher surface area (132.47 cm³/g) compared to CrAl (120.71 cm³/g), correlating with its superior catalytic performance. FTIR identified crucial functional groups, while SEM images showed a consistent porous structure for CrSi. TGA indicated thermal stability for both catalysts. Under optimized conditions, CrSi demonstrated superior performance, achieving a sorbitol conversion rate of 70.08% with notable selectivity towards ethylene glycol (33.95%) and propylene glycol (45.66%). In contrast, CrAl displayed a slightly lower conversion rate of 67.59%, with selectivity towards ethylene glycol (20.21%) and propylene glycol (37.56%), highlighting CrSi superior efficiency in sorbitol hydrogenolysis. This study emphasizes the significance of carefully choosing and optimizing catalysts for improving process efficiency and selectivity in sorbitol hydrogenolysis for industrial applications.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zulaikha Athirah Alexzman, Nurrulhidayah Salamun, Mohd Lokman Ibrahim, Siti Hajar Anaziah Muhamad, Sharifah Najiha Timmiati, Nur Hazirah Ruzali Annuar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Preparation of Iron Catalysts on Reliable Gamma Alumina Supports for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis
In addition to high activity, a reliable catalyst must exhibit resistance to thermal and mechanical stresses, which is achieved through high mechanical strength. In this work, nine samples of γ-alumina catalyst supports were prepared using the oil-drop method according to the Taguchi M9 design. To assess the reliability of the supports, all samples were evaluated through mechanical strength testing. Iron catalysts were then prepared on these supports via the wet impregnation method for use in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The results revealed that the catalyst prepared on the support with the following specifications: An Al/H ratio of 1.8, a hexamethylenetetramine solution concentration of 30 wt.%, an aging time of 12 hours, and a calcination temperature of 650°C, demonstrated good conversion in addition to relatively high mechanical strength (65 MPa), among the other samples. Finally, this reliable catalyst was evaluated in a reactor to determine the optimal conditions for achieving higher conversion and selectivity. The best results for CO conversion (61.9%) and C4 selectivity (4.1%) were obtained when the reaction operational conditions were T=270℃, P=3bar, GHSV=2153.40 h-1, and H2/CO=1. Highlights · Mechanical strength of gamma alumina support was evaluated to optimize performance catalyst. · Reliable catalysts should have both high mechanical strength and good catalytic properties. · Statistical analysis was used to optimize the operating conditions to achieve high CO conversion and product selectivity. · Models were validated using analysis of variance. · Higher selectivity was observed at lower temperatures and H2/CO molar ratios.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kousar Dinarvandi, Mozhgan Zakeri, Hossein Atashi, Ali Akbar Mirzaei (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Fe3O4@3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane-SO3H: A greener catalyst for one-pot synthesis of pyranopyrimidine derivatives
The present work describes the eco-friendly preparation of magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4 (MNPs) using Water Extract of Lemon Fruit Shell Ash (WELFSA) as a greener agro-waste solvent medium and further functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and -SO3H. The prepared heterogeneous Lewis acid was explored for one-pot synthesis of pyrano[2,3-d] pyrimidine derivatives using aromatic aldehyde, ethyl cyanoacetate, and barbituric or thiobarbituric acid, accelerated by microwave irradiation in ethanol as a co-solvent. The reaction is optimized by various methods such as magnetic stirring, ultrasound, mechanochemical, and microwave irradiation, but the microwave irradiation method gives excellent product isolation with a faster rate and a high yield of 82-92% with high purity. The advantages of the present approach are chemical-free, no hazardous solvents, and considered as an eco-friendly protocol for the synthesis of pyrano [2,3-d] pyrimidine derivatives. The final product isolated is recrystallized in ethanol and characterized by FT-IR, 1H-, 13C-NMR, and LC-MS spectrometry. Further, some of the selected pyrano [2, 3-d] pyrimidine derivatives (4a, 4d, 4f, 4m, 4o, and 4r) are subjected to anti-microbial activity studies. The tested derivatives show anti-microbial activity comparable to the activities of reference antimicrobials. Highlights Greener synthesis of Fe3O4 demonstrated Further surface modification to Fe3O4@APTES-SO3H, an acid functionality attached, and characterized using various techniques The application of this prepared catalysts demonstrated for pyranopyrimidine derivatives synthesis. The present approach highlighted rapid, simple, avoid use of chromatographic purification, inexpensive, recyclable catalyst, and a green synthetic protocol Some of the selected derivatives screened for (4a, 4d, 4f, 4m, 4o and 4r) antimicrobial activity studies, and derivatives showed comparable activities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Raju Shekhanavar, Aravind Kamath, Kantharaju Kamanna (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Humic Acid: A Green Acid Catalyzed by Acylation of Amine, Phenol, and Thiols Derivatives under Solvent-Free Conditions
Humic acid has been the catalyst in a novel process that effectively and environmentally acylates amine, phenol, and thiol derivatives. This method works well with aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic substrates, among other functionalized molecules. There is only one step involved in the simple method, which yields a high yield without any unintended side effects. In addition, the humic acid catalyst may be recycled at least four times, and the process is simpler, quicker, and greener than earlier research. The current work presented aniline (10 mmol, 0.93 mL), acetic anhydride (10 mmol, 1 mL), and humic acid catalyst (15 mg), which were stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes under solvent-free conditions to get a 97% yield. Highlights · A development of the protocol under Green methodology. · Acylation of phenol, amines, alcohol, and thiol derivatives under solvent-free condition. · Humic acid as a biodegradable catalyst. · After complete the reaction product was easily isolated from reaction mixture. · Humic acid is easily recyclable from reaction mixture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shripad Patil, Atnv Sairaju, Abhishek Saxena, Nowduri Aannapurna (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A synthesis, characterization and catalytic application of CNT aerogels for conversion of β-nitrostyrenes to arylhydrazones
In this study, carbon aerogel was first prepared via the reaction between carbon nanotubes and chitosan. The structure and properties of the prepared carbon aerogel were determined using FESEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, Raman, TEM, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm (Based on BET theory). Through the various analyses of the aerogel, due to its mesoporous structure and enriched functional surface, the prepared aerogel was a suitable candidate for catalyzing the reaction. Moreover, there were a few reports on the direct use of carbon-based aerogels as a catalyst. Therefore, the reaction between β-nitrostyrene and hydrazine hydrate was considered for this purpose. This reaction is a retro-aza-Henry type reaction, including non-oxidative C=C double bond cleavage, which is a rare phenomenon in organic reactions. The optimized conditions were obtained using several experiments. Based on these experiments, the best result was obtained using 10 mL ethanol as solvent, 25 oC temperature, 30 mg catalyst, and two mmol hydrazine hydrate solution (80%), and in 3 h. According to our experiments, 11 different derivatives of β-nitrostyrene were successfully converted to the corresponding hydrazone in 95-99% yield. The catalyst showed promising results in the reusability experiments, where after six consecutive runs, the yield was reduced by only 5%. Highlights · Metal-free carbon aerogel was prepared and used as a catalyst · The reaction between β-nitrostyrene and hydrazine hydrate was performed · This studied reaction includes non-oxidative C=C double bond cleavage · The reactions were performed at r.t. and completed in 3 h. · 11 derivatives of β-nitrostyrene were converted to the hydrazone in 95-99% yield
Copyright (c) 2025 Hossein Tavakol, Reza Goodarzi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Synthesis and Characterization of a CNT/Fe2O3/TiO2/Bentonite Nanocomposite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride
This process studies the efficiency of the advanced oxidation processes, which were used to decompose tetracycline hydrochloride in aqueous solutions by CNT/Fe2O3/TiO2/Bentonit. A nanocatalyst was prepared with high conductivity, broad light absorption, and high surface area, utilizing Photocatalysts again. Several process variables (irradiation time, contaminant concentration, catalyst dosage, and pH) were studied. X-ray diffraction analysis. The quality of the high-performance nanocomposite catalyst construction will be improved if X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the catalyst has been transformed into a pure homogeneous structure. At pH 5, the contaminant was degraded in 120 min with a dose of 15 mg of the nanocomposite. At a concentration of 0.5 ppm tetracycline hydrochloride, the clearance rate reached 95.1%. The removal rate decreased with increasing pH, while titanium oxide degraded the tetracycline hydrochloride, bentonite, and nanocarbon exhibited contaminant adsorption capacity. The regression coefficient (R2) of 0.97 indicated that the process best conformed to quasi-first-order kinetics.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ayad Dari, Mohammed Shorbaz, May Ali, Ahmed Zamil (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Efficient and greener method synthesis of pyrano [2, 3-c] pyrazole derivatives catalyzed by Fe3O4@L-Cys-SH as reusable catalyst
The present work describes the eco-friendly preparation of magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4 (MNPs), and further functionalized with L-Cysteine amino acid. Various analytical and spectroscopic techniques used for the characterization of prepared MNPs and its functionalized materials. Further demonstrated utility of this functionalized MNPs for four component one-pot synthesis of pyrano [2, 3-c]pyrazole derivatives. The synthetic approach outlined is rapid, eco-friendly, and allows for the simple isolation of the product. After recrystallization of the crude product gave a chromatographically pure product, this method found an inexpensive and recyclable catalyst, which was achieved up to four cycles for the synthesis of bioactive heterocycles. The synthesized derivatives were characterized using FT-IR, 1H- & 13C-NMR, and LC-MS. Additionally, some of the selected derivatives showed moderate antioxidant activity (5a, five h, 5i, 5j, 5k, 5n, 5p, and 5q) against a reference.
Copyright (c) 2025 Raju Shekhanavar, Santosh Y. Khatavi, Kantharaju Kamanna (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0