Alireza Keshavarz - Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Arak University Arak, Iran
Alireza Salabat - Institue of Nanosciences & Nanotechnolgy, Arak UniversityArak, Iran
Ramin ValiRasti - Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Arak University Arak, Iran

In this study catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol aqueous solution as highly toxic pollutant was investigated using a new designed Pt/γ-Al2O3 nanocatalyst. This nanocatalyst was prepared by w/o microemulsion method with H2PtCl6 as metallic source. The catalytic activity of the prepared nanocatalyst was investigated by reduction of 4-NP in the mild condition. Various key operating parameters such as initial concentration of 4-NP (5-25 ppm), pH of the solution (4-12), and platinum content of the catalyst (0.5-2 %wt) on the degradation rate of 4-NP was studied by Box–Behnken design. Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) were used to examine influence of independent factors and their quadratic interactions. The obtained results indicated that the maximum degradation can be achieved at pH=4, [4-NP]=10ppm and platinum loading of 1.68 wt%.

4-Nitrophenol (4-NP); W/O Microemulsion; Pt/γ-Al2O3; Box-Behnken Design