Reduction of nitroaromatic compounds using Cu-Ni-EDTA bimetallic MOF: An exceptionally quick and reliable approach

This article describes the preparation, characterisation and catalytical activity of a Bimetallic Metal Organic Framework (Cu-Ni-EDTA). As a catalyst, Cu-Ni-EDTA Bimetallic MOF (BMOF) was used to reduce a three variety of nitro aromatic compounds (NACs), which includes 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP), 2-Nitroaniline (2-NA) and 4-Nitroaniline (4-NA). Various approaches like Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) were employed to examine the BMOF, revealing that the BMOF has distinct shape, crystallinity, high surface area, improved thermal stability, existence of open pores on the surface of the structure. The BMOF has reduced the 2-Nitroaniline and 4-Nitroaniline in 120 seconds with 94.31% and 95.69% of percentage of reduction respectively, whereas the BMOF took 180 seconds to reduce the 4-Nitrophenol with 98.51% of percentage of reduction in the presence of sodium borohydride, demonstrating that the BMOF has strong catalytic activity towards the aforementioned three nitro aromatic compounds. Since BMOF is non-toxic, inexpensive and follows the principles of green chemistry, it can be applied to wastewater treatment.