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Development of Magnetically Recoverable Nanocatalysts
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Although nanocatalysts enjoy several advantages over conventional catalyst systems; however, isolation and recovery of these tiny nanocatalysts from the reaction mixture is not easy. Conventional techniques (such as filtration) are not efficient because of the nano size of the catalyst particles. This limitation hampers the economics and sustainability of these nanocatalytic protocols. To overcome this issue, the use of magnetic nanoparticles has emerged as a viable solution; their insoluble and paramagnetic nature enables easy and efficient separation of the catalysts from the reaction mixture with an external magnet. We envision designing and preparing magnetically separable nano-catalysts that can be utilized for future challenges on the horizon. We believe, it is only a matter of time before the real prospective of magnetic nanocatalysts are realized and implemented on a far-reaching scale. Synthesis of different mesoporous materials such as MCM-41, SBA-15, Porous Organic
Polymer and Graphene Oxide functionalized with magnetic nanomaterials (such as Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nano) that can be used as a magnetic nanocatalyst (separation can be done from reaction mixture by using simple bar magnet) for different organic transformations for the value added small heterocyclic molecules, hydrogenation of aromatic alkenes, carbon-oxygen hydrogenolysis and hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural for Biofuel upgrading.