Room-temperature synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles and their use as catalysts for Methylene Blue and Rhodamine-B dye degradation

Air stable nanoparticles were prepared from cobalt sulphate using tetra butyl ammonium bromide as surfactant and sodium borohydride as reductant at room temperature. The cobalt nanocolloids in aqueous medium were found to be efficient catalysts for the degradation of toxic organic dyes. Our present study involves degradation of Methylene Blue and Rhodamine-B using cobalt nanoparticles and easy recovery of the catalyst from the system. The recovered nanoparticles could be recycled several times without loss of catalytic activity. Palladium nanoparticles prepared from palladium chloride and the same surfactant were found to degrade the organic dyes effectively but lose their catalytic activity after recovery. The cause of dye colour discharge by nanocolloids has been assigned based on our experimental findings.