Pd Nanoparticles Supported on Cellulose as a Catalyst for Vanillin Conversion in Aqueous Media.

Palladium nanoparticles were first anchored on modified biopolymer as an efficient catalyst for a biofuel upgrade. Fluorinated compounds was grafted onto cellulose to obtain amphiphilic supports for on water reactions. Pd catalyst was prepared by straightforward deposition of metal nanoparticles on modified cellulose. The catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and selectivity in hydrodeoxygenation of vanillin (a typical model compound of lignin) to 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol under atmospheric hydrogen pressure in neat water without any other additives under mild conditions.