In this study heterogeneous catalysts have been synthesized based on encapsulation of iron(III), nickel(II) and copper(II) complex of N,N′-Ethylenebis(salicylimine) or salen ligand into zeolite Y cavities by ship in a bottle method. The catalysts have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, BET surface area and pore volume analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, elemental analysis and electron paramagnetic resonance. The results show that ship in a bottle method is an efficient and simple approach for encapsulation of metal complexes into zeolite Y supercage. The prepared catalysts have been found to be very effective in the removal of azo dye from wastewater. The extent of its reusability for the catalytic oxidation of azo dye and the possible deactivation mechanism after ten successive reuse of the catalyst has also been studied.

Solomon Legese Hailu sincerely thanks the Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI), Government of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, for full financial support for his Ph.D. studies under Twinning Program between Leather Industry Development Institute (LIDI), Addis Ababa University (AAU) and CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI). ID acknowledges CSIC, Spain for the research leave at AAU.

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