Abstract
Selective and efficient production of vanillin from lignin‐derived feedstocks has attracted attention to replace its current manufacturing process. Transition metal‐based catalysts supported on mesoporous aluminosilicate were synthesized using a mechanochemical approach and subsequently investigated in vanillin production via the selective oxidation of isougenol. The mechanochemically synthesized catalysts exhibited a high isoeugenol conversion under mild conditions using H2O2 as oxidizing agent. Nb‐based catalysts were found to provide the optimum conversion/selectivity under the investigated conditions (69% conversion, 66% vanillin selectivity, 2 h reaction). The synergistic effect between Fe/Nb and Al accounts as important key factor for optimum activity of catalytic systems.
Selective oxidation of isoeugenol to vanillin using Fe/Al‐SBA‐15 and Nb/Al‐SBA‐15 catalyts. Materials were synthesis by mechanochemical process. High conversion and selectivity to vanillin were achieved using hyrogen peroxide as a greener oxidant agent.