NiO-FeS2 Heterostructure Composite: Benign Photocatalyst for Reduction of Nitrophenol to Aminophenol

Abstract

Aromatic nitro compounds have been promising industrial applications including paper production, pigments, pharmaceuticals, dyes, wood, leather, petrochemical, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, explosives, and preservatives. US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) declared that 4‑nitrophenol (4‑ NP) has been recognized as a non‑biodegradable pollutant and therefore, a very important to develop an effective method to either modify or remove 4‑NP before releasing it into the environment. In that concern, we have developed an efficient, heterostructure composite of NiO‑FeS 2 via hydrothermal. The 4 mg catalyst dose and 10 mg/L concentration of 4‑NP are the optimum conditions for complete reduction of 4‑NP to 4‑ AP by prepared NiO‑FeS 2 composite.