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

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]