Cu particles decorated carbon composite
microspheres (CCMs) with
a unique sesame ball structure have been prepared by combining the
mass-producible spray drying technique with calcinations. The conventional
cuprammonium cellulose complex solution obtained by dissolving cellulose
in a cuprammonia solution has been applied as raw materials for the
preparation of Cu(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub><sup>2+</sup>/cellulose
complex microspheres via a spray drying process. The resulted Cu(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub><sup>2+</sup>/cellulose complex microspheres
are then transformed into the Cu particles homogeneously decorated
porous carbon spheres <i>in situ</i> by calcinations at
450 or 550 °C. The coordination effect between the Cu(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub><sup>2+</sup> species and the hydroxyl groups
of the cellulose macromolecules has been exploited for directing the
dispersion of the Cu particles in the resultant composite CCMs. The
antimicrobial effects of the CCMs are evaluated by determining the
minimum growth inhibitory concentrations using Staphylococcus
aureus and Escherichia coli as representatives, respectively. The CCMs show high efficiency
catalytic properties to the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol
using NaBH<sub>4</sub> as a reductant in a mild condition. The recyclability
and stability of the CCM catalysts have also been studied
