Visible light-mediated and water-assisted selective hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived guaiacol to cyclohexanol

Abstract

A magnetically separable bimetallic AgPd/Fe@CN_X catalyst has been synthesized and utilized for upgrading of lignin-derived guaiacol to cyclohexanol via hydrodeoxygenation using formic acid as a source of hydrogen under visible light irradiation. A nitrogen-enriched carbonaceous material, carbon nitride (CN_X), is obtained via calcination of chitosan, a marine-derived abundant waste material and subsequently utilized as a support for the immobilization of nano-ferrites and silver and palladium nanoparticles. Hydrogen generation from renewable sources such as formic acid and its ideal utilization for the upgrading of biomass-derived guaiacol are the main findings. The synergetic effect of Ag and Pd on the CN_X support enhances the decomposition of formic acid which is aptly utilized for the selective defunctionalization of guaiacol at ambient pressure.