In situ green synthesis of Cu nanoparticles supported on natural Natrolite zeolite for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, congo red and methylene blue.

This study demonstrates a clean, non-toxic and environment friendly synthetic strategy for the preparation of the Natrolite zeolite/Cu nanoparticles (NPs) using Natrolite zeolite as a natural support and Anthemis xylopoda flowers aqueous extract as a reducing and stabilising agent for the synthesis of Cu NPs. Cu NPs with 20 nm diameter were immobilised homogeneously on the surface of Natrolite zeolite. The synthesised Natrolite zeolite/Cu NPs was used as an environmentally benign catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, congo red and methylene blue in aqueous media at an ambient temperature. It has been found that the catalyst can be reused several times without any decrease in activity.