abstract

immobilized with 3-chloroprpyltriethoxysilane (CPTES) to produce

RHACCl. A Schiff bases which were prepared from the reaction of

salisyaldehyde with phenylhydrazine (PHMP), also with 2,4-

dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPHMP),were functionalized with RHACCl

to give new heterogeneous catalysts labeled as RHPHMP and RHDNPH.

Many techniques have been used to prove the successfully functionalized

silica with PHMP and DNPHMP such as FT-IR ,CHN, X-ray Diffraction,

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) / Energy Dispersive X-Ray

(EDX), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) / Differential Thermal

Analysis (DTA). The FT-IR of the prepared catalysts shows the

disappearance of –NH2 absorption band and appearance of C=N and

C=C absorption bands at the expected position The elemental analysis

and EDX results show an increase in the carbon percentage and presence

of nitrogen which is not found in RHACCl. Thermal analysis TGA/DTA

shows different stages of mass loss attributed to the removal of the

organic moiety in the catalysts structure. The catalytic activity of

RHPHMP, RHDNPH and RHA-Blank (as control) as well as

homogenous PHMP and homogenous DNPHMP were used as catalysts in

the hydrolysis of cellulose . The catalytic activity of the catalysts toward

the respective glucose was found to follow the sequence below.

PHMP > RHPHMP> RHDNPH > DNPHM > RHA.

The catalysts were easily regenerated and could be reused several times

without loss of catalytic activity