Development of a flow reactor incorporating polydopamine-poly(ε-caprolactone) with gold particles

Addressing the significant challenge of dye wastewater pollution, this study introduces a novel solution employing a flow catalytic reactor loaded with gold (Au) particles. The reactor utilizes a porous monolithic material with a Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix as the carrier for Au particles, with polydopamine employed to immobilize the Au onto the surface of the PCL monolith. To assess the catalytic efficiency of the reactor, a model catalytic degradation experiment involving the reaction between methyl orange (MO) and sodium borohydride was conducted. The catalytic reaction was facilitated by a peristaltic pump. The reactor setup involved fixing the monolith within a heat shrinkable tube, and the peristaltic pump ensured the flow catalytic reaction. The protective effect of liquid nitrogen was utilized to confirm that the porous structure of the PCL monolith, with its low melting point, remained intact after being fixed in the heat shrink tube. Catalytic results revealed remarkable efficacy, with the decomposition efficiency of MO reaching 98.54%. This flow reactor enables continuous operation, making it more practical for real-world applications compared to traditional batch methods. Furthermore, even after 5 cycles, the sample maintained a catalytic efficiency exceeding 90%, demonstrating the excellent reusability of the reactor.