Synthesis and study of catalytical activity of shungite modified with copper nanoparticles

Abstract

Carrying out a large number of processes in organic synthesis requires the use of expensive catalysts
based on palladium, gold, silver and other metal nanoparticles. Numerous studies have focused on a search of
systems that have a similar catalytic action, but lower cost. The development of catalysts based on various
carbon sorbents modified with copper nanoparticles seems to be promising. Natural mineral shungite is a
cheap and readily available raw carbon material, which occurrs only in Russia. This article focuses on the use
of shungite as a carrier for a catalyst based on copper nanoparticles.
A known method for the synthesis of nanoparticles in reverse micellar solutions was applied to the
synthesis of copper nanoparticles. A model catalyst, obtained by adsorption of nanoparticles from solutions
on shungite material, was studied in this work. The catalyst was characterized by electron microprobe analysis
and UV-visible spectroscopy. The activity of the catalyst obtained was evaluated by the model reaction of
primary amines with carbonyl compounds.