Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-020-01470-4 Efficient Catalytic Reduction of Hazardous Anthropogenic Pollutant, 4‑Nitrophenol Using Radiation Synthesized (Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone/ Acrylic Acid)‑Silver Nanocomposite Hydrogels Amany I. Raafat 1  · Ghada A. Mahmoud 1  · Tahia B. Mostafa 2 Received: 4 January 2020 / Accepted: 7 February 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020 Abstract In the present investigation, a series of (polyvinyl pyrrolidone/acrylic acid) (PVP/AAc) hydrogels were synthesized using gamma irradiation as super clean source for polymerization and crosslinking. Silver nanoparticles were deposited within (PVP/AAc) hydrogels as supporting matrices by means of in situ reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) as Ag + ions precur- sor using sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) as a reducing agent. UV–Vis spectroscopy and TEM image analysis confirmed the nanoscale size of the Ag° nanoparticles (NPs). (PVP/AAc)-Ag° nanocomposites were systematically characterized using XRD, EDX, and TGA techniques. The presence of Ag NPs increases the thermal stability of the obtained nanocomposite as confirmed by TGA studies. The developed nanocomposites show enhanced catalytic activity toward the reduction of 4-Nitrophenol as a model of hazardous anthropogenic materials in the presence of NaBH 4 as a reducing agent. The catalytic performance proceeds with conversion yield exceeding 99% almost within 5 min depending on the amount of the loaded Ag NPs. Additionally, (PVP/AAc)-Ag° nanocomposites show efficient antimicrobial activity against different microbial strains which suggesting their use as potential disinfection during waste water treatment. Keywords Catalytic activity · Gamma radiation · Nanocomposite · 4-Nitrophenol · Silver nanoparticles 1 Introduction Environmental pollution is the most global menace facing humanity and other life forms on our planet today. Since eighteenth century with the emergence of industrial revolu- tion, anthropogenic pollution began to be visible due to the replacement of physical energy and start using machines in the industries [1]. Anthropogenic pollution has contributed to the environmental burden since they learned to control fire and smelt metals. Many anthropogenic contaminants such as industrial organics, pesticides, and trace metals have become widely distributed around the globe [2]. Nitrophenols are a class of anthropogenic; they are toxic, inhibitory and biorefractory organic compounds used exten- sively in the production of explosives, agrochemicals, dyes and pharmaceuticals [3]. In particular, 4-Nitrophenol (4NP) is a toxic derivative of the parathion insecticide and fungi- cide agent [4]. It considered hazardous materials and priority toxic pollutants by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [5]. A short-term inhalation of 4NP causes disturb- ing symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness, nausea, and cyanosis in human. From the bright side, 4NP is a prevalent precursor for 4-aminophenol (4AP) synthesis which is a potent intermediate for the manufacture of many analgesic and antipyretic drugs. Also, it can be used as photographic developer, drying agent, corrosion inhibitor, anticorrosion lubricant, and hair-dyeing agent [6]. Catalytic reduction of (4NP) to profitable (4AP) is con- sidered to be the most efficient economical approach for environmental remediation and resources regeneration [7]. Among different strategies, applying metal nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for the reduction of 4NP into 4AP assisted by sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) as a reducing agent seems promising due to their high surface to volume * Amany I. Raafat ismaelraafat_a@hotmail.com 1 Polymer Chemistry Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (AEAE), Nasr City, P.O. Box 29, Cairo 11731, Egypt 2 College for Women, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt