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The synthesis of benzyl alcohol: process optimization, photo-illuminated liquid phase hydrogenation, the improved green catalysts from natural zeolite

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Abstract

In this work, we developed a novel strategy in which catalytic processes are suitable for the selective hydrogenation of benzaldehyde under visible light illumination. It was intended to compare the catalytic activities and to optimize the benzaldehyde hydrogenation reaction with Pd-based catalysts on different support groups (activated carbon, alumina, clinoptilolite). It was also determined that the use of immobilized Pd0 on amine-functionalized clinoptilolite (CLI) could enhance the selectivity toward benzyl alcohol (BA) in the hydrogenation of benzaldehyde (BAld). These prepared catalysts were characterized by using different analysis techniques, including XRD, BET surface area analysis, FTIR, and TGA analysis for determining the total surface acidity and SEM analysis. The final product concentrations were determined in gas chromatography (GC). Catalytic reactions were carried out under both temperature effects and halogen lamp irradiation as a novel method for comparison with the conventional hydrogenation technique. The best catalytic performance was obtained at 2Pd/APTMSCLI with total conversion and 100% BA selectivity. This work provides a novel approach for the development of a new bifunctional hydrogenation catalyst and may have a significant impact on the advancement of technology to obtain BA with high efficiencies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to sincerely express their thanks to the Scientific Research Projects (BAP) Coordination Unit of Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa for supporting the project under project no.: 59742 and project ID.: 3690.

Funding

The Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa supported the project under project no.: 59742 and project ID.: 3690.

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey

    Yasar Zengin & Gulin Selda Pozan Soylu

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Conceptualization: Gulin Selda Pozan Soylu; methodology: Gulin Selda Pozan Soylu and Yasar Zengin; formal analysis and investigation: Yasar Zengin; writing—original draft preparation: Yasar Zengin and Gulin Selda Pozan Soylu; writing—review and editing: Yasar Zengin and Gulin Selda Pozan Soylu; resources: Yasar Zengin; supervision: Gulin Selda Pozan Soylu.

Gulin Selda Pozan Soylu conceived the idea and designed the experiments. Yasar Zengin conducted the material synthesis and characterization experiments, carried out the major catalytic performance test, and wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Gulin Selda Pozan Soylu.

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Zengin, Y., Soylu, G.S.P. The synthesis of benzyl alcohol: process optimization, photo-illuminated liquid phase hydrogenation, the improved green catalysts from natural zeolite. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 14, 10533–10547 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03637-0

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