Catalytic activity of Fe3O4/CeO2 nanocomposites prepared by a microwave-assisted solvothermal method: imine formation from benzyl alcohol and aniline

In cafalysis, nanoceria has been used as efficient catalysi for aerobic oxidation reactions due to its oxygen storage capability [1], although its recovery at the end of the catalytic cycle cannot be carried out by simple filtration, because of its too tiny texture [2]. A method to overcome this disadvantage is to cover magnetite (Fe304) with nanoceria [3], in order to remove the whole material easily from the reaction mixture by using an external magnet. The focus of this contribution is to verify, whether: i) the nanoceria deposition process changes the pristine morphology of the magnetite nanoparticles, ii) the different morphologies of magnetite seeds synthesized using various organic stabilizer (polyvinyIpyrrolidone, trisodium citrate dihydrate or oleic acid) during the preparation of the catalyst can influence its catalytic activity in the imine formation from benzyl alcohol and aniline.