Catalytic Reduction of 2-Nitroaniline in Aqueous Medium Using Silver Nanoparticles Functionalized Polymer Microgels

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) [P(NIPAM-co-MAA)] microgels were prepared by free radical precipitation polymerization in aqueous medium. Silver nanoparticles were fabricated inside the microgel network by in situ reduction of silver ions. The pure and hybrid microgels were characterized by FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Dynamic light scattering was performed to investigate the pH sensitivity of the microgels. The TEM and XRD analysis was used to determine the size of silver nanoparticles. The value of lambda(SPR) was found to be red shifted with increase of pH of the medium due to change of refractive index around Ag nanoparticles as a result of swelling of microgels. The hybrid microgels were used as catalyst for reduction of 2-nitroaniline (2-NA) in aqueous medium. The progress of the reaction was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometry in the presence of various concentrations of NaBH4, 2-NA and hybrid microgel dose. The data was used to explore the inside mechanism of catalytic reduction of 2-NA in aqueous medium.