Design of silica supported magnetic plasmonic catalyst and determination of its catalytic activity in batch reactor

In this thesis, monodisperse-porous silica microbeads in a magnetic form were synthesized by new sol–gel templating method. Primary amine groups were formed on SiO2 microbeads by covalent immobilization. In the following step, Au nanoparticles were fixed onto the SiO2 microbeads by using primary amine groups. Magnetic SiO2 microbeads carrying Au nanoparticles were used as plasmonic catalyst for removal of phenol by Fenton based degradation mechanism in a batch reactor. Size distribution, surface morphology and the specific surface area of magnetic catalyst microbeads were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption method, respectively. The phenol removal efficiency was determined in an HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) system equipped with a reversed phase column. In the presence of Au nanoparticle containing magnetic SiO2 microbeads, the relationship between Au nanoparticle size and phenol removal efficiency was investigated. The most appropriate pH for phenol removal was determined. Besides, the effects of catalyst concentration, Au nanoparticle content of catalyst, and the initial concentrations of phenol and hydrogen peroxide on the phenol removal mechanism were investigated. The recyclability of the developed plasmonic catalyst was also investigated and successful results were obtained. The results showed that, phenol could be degraded by the silica supported magnetic plasmonic catalyst via Fenton-reaction with high yield.