Eggshell membrane hydrolysate as a multi-functional agent for synthesis of functionalized graphene analogue and its catalytic nanocomposites

This paper demonstrates eggshell membrane protein hydrolysate (ESMH), a critical food waste worldwide, can be harnessed as a multifunctional agent for eco-friendly reduction and functionalization of graphene oxide (GO) based on its diverse and abundant functional groups. The resulting GO reduced and functionalized with ESMH (ESMH-RGO) exhibits an aqueous dispersibility and applicability as a 2-dimensional support for synthesis of catalytic Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) with a high density. The AuNPs synthesized on ESMH-RGO (AuNPs@ESMH-RGO) presents a high catalytic activity for conversion of environmental pollutant (4-nitrophenol) to an industrially useful raw material (4-aminophenol). Those results clearly indicate that ESMH has a strong potential in environmental and materials chemistry.