Seafood waste derived Pt/Chitin nanocatalyst for efficient hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds

The fabrication of reliable, reusable and efficient catalyst is crucial for the conversion of nitroaromatic compounds into more chemically valuable amine-based molecules. In this study, a series of chitin supported platinum (Pt) catalysts with high catalytic activity, stability, and reusability were developed by using chitin derived from seafood waste as raw materials. The catalytic performance differences among these catalysts activated by different methods were investigated by hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds. The results showed that the multilayer hierarchical pore structure and abundance of hydroxyl and acetamido groups in chitin provided ample anchoring sites for Pt nanoparticles (NPs), ensuring the high dispersion of Pt NPs. Moreover, the interconnected channels between chitin nanofibrous microspheres facilitated rapid transport of reaction substrates. The best Pt/Chitin catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and broad substrate applicability in hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds. Significantly, even after 20 runs, no discernible deactivation of activity was observed, demonstrating exceptional catalytic reusability. The application of seafood waste-based catalysts is conducive to the development of a green/sustainable society.