Carboxylcellulose hydrogel confined-Fe3O4 nanoparticles catalyst for Fenton-like degradation of Rhodamine B

Facile preparation of functional hydrogel materials for environmental catalysis is a hot research topic of soft materials science and green catalysis. In this study, a carboxylcellulose hydrogel confined Fe3O4 nanoparticles composite catalyst (Fe3O4@CHC) with magnetic recyclability has been synthesized by taking the advantages of the newly developed cellulose solution in tetramethyl guanidine/DMSO/CO2 through in situ acylation using mixed cyclic anhydrides and ion exchange reaction. The achieved Fe3O4@CHC hydrogel catalyst was shown to be an more efficient and better Fenton-like catalyst for decomposition of the organic dye rhodamine B (RhB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, with almost complete decomposition occurring within 180 min, in comparison with Fe3O4@cellulose hydrogel (CH) with excellent recyclability. This work provided a facile strategy for the preparation of hydrogel-based functional composite green catalytic materials, which has potential applications in green catalysis. [Display omitted] •Cellulosic hydrogel anchoring carboxylic moiety is developed as a superior carrier for nano Fe3O4 than cellulose.•Fe3O4 NPs in situ hydrogel network have an average diameter size of 4.3 nm.•The coordination ability of carboxylic and hydroxyl groups moiety is response for the good NPs stability and dispersion.•The prepared Fe3O4 NPs have the desired catalytic activity for the Fenton-like degradation of Rhodamine B.