Catalytic deoxygenation of vanillin over layered double hydroxide supported Pd catalyst

A sustainable method was developed for the upgrade of biomass derived vanillin (a typical model compound of lignin) into the potential liquid biofuels over a layered double hydroxide supported Pd catalyst (abbreviated as CoAl–LDH/Pd). The CoAl–LDH/Pd catalyst showed high catalytic activity towards the hydrodeoxygenation of vanillin into 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP) under mild conditions in aqueous media. High MMP yield up to 86% was produced at 120   °C after 4   h. Kinetic studies revealed that the rate-determining step for the hydrodeoxygenation of vanillin was the hydrogenolysis of vanillyl alcohol. More importantly, the CoAl–LDH/Pd catalyst was highly stable without the loss of activity.