Aminoclay functionalized zinc nanoparticle: synthesis, spectral characterization and catalytic study

The zinc nanoparticle bridged with aminoclay has been synthesized by complexation followed by chemical reduction method. The prepared material has been characterized by various analytical tools. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope image confirms the size of Zn nanoparticle as 2–8 nm. The Zn nanoparticle-bridged aminoclay has been used as a catalyst for the reduction of the mixture of effluents such as hexavalent chromium, p-nitrophenol and fluorescein dye. The apparent rate constant value confirms that the Flur dye exhibited an enhanced value in the mixture of pollutants. The Schiff base formation in chitosan has been carried out in order to prove the catalytic effect of zinc nanoparticle-bridged aminoclay. The experimental results have been carefully analyzed and compared with the literature reports.