Experimental design for optimization of 4-nitrophenol reduction by green synthesized CeO2/g-C3N4/Ag catalyst using response surface methodology

In this study,the enhancement of catalytic activity of ceria when modified with co-catalysts such as graphitic carbon nitride and silver was establishe d.The material was synthe sized using phytogenic combustion method,a green alternative to the traditional preparative routes.The catalyst was characterized using XRD,FTIR,SEM,EDX,XPS and TEM techniques.The synergistic effect of the composite CeO2/g-C3 N4/Ag was tested for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the prese nce of sodium borohydride.The reaction was carried out at room tempe rature without any light source or exte rnal stirring.The individual and combined effects of four parameters,viz.,concentration of 4-NP,amount of catalyst,amount of NaBH4 and time for the reduction of reduction 4-NP were investigated using Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology(RSM).This statistical model was used to optimize the reaction conditions for maximum reduction of 4-NP.The optimum conditions for the reduction reaction are found to be 0.01 mmol/L 4-NP,15 mg catalyst,20 mg NaBH4 and 13.7 min time interval.