Fabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles, and green catalytic application of an immobilized novel iron Schiff on wood cellulose

In this work, a fabrication route for generating organic–inorganic polymer hybrid materials has been discussed. Natural cellulose was extracted from Sesbania sesban to design a biodegradable microcomposite. A novel iron Schiff base using 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde as a ligand was immobilized on cellulose along with amin functionality (FeSAC). The structure, morphology and thermal stability of FeSAC were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), FT-IR, Inductively coupled plasma, thermo gravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. The synthesized catalyst was successfully applied as a green heterogeneous catalyst in the oxidation reaction under a solvent free media and hydrogen peroxide, providing a promising green system for industrial applications. High yield products and selectivities were observed. The longevity of the micro-catalyst was studied and it was found to be reusable for at least six runs. Finally, α-Fe₂O₃ was obtained by direct calcinations of this biocatalyst at 650 °C within 3 h. α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction.