Sustainable production of cyclohexanones through hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived phenolics over PdFe/HZSM-5 catalysts

Despite the crucial roles of cyclohexanones across various industrial sectors, notably in the production of nylon and plastics, their conventional production heavily relies on fossil resources. The exploration of highly efficient routes to convert renewable biomass into cyclohexanones holds promise for advancing sustainable chemical processes, especially with the growing concerns in energy and the environment. Herein, we report the direct conversion of lignin-derived phenolic compounds to cyclohexanones through hydrodeoxygenation using PdFe/HZSM-5 catalysts. The successful achieved conversion of guaiacol was up to 97.27%, with a greatest selectivity of 90.59% to cyclohexanone on PdFe1.5/HZSM-5. Characterization of the catalysts further revealed that bimetallic catalyst promoted the dispersion of PdFe on HZSM-5 and facilitated the interactions between PdFe because of electron transfer, which collectively facilitated surprising outcomes. This work offers a promising strategy for improving lignin valorization within the context of producing sustainable chemicals and industrial materials.