Mesoporous Zirconium Oxides and Cobalt Oxides for Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Vanillin

Mesoporous zirconium oxides (ZrO₂) and cobalt oxides (Co_xO_y) were prepared by different methods, using vanillin (VAN) as a model compound to explore the catalytic performance of catalysts for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction. Various characterization methods were used to test the catalysts' morphology, structure, and chemical composition. Under the optimal conditions, the study found that the yield of catalyzing the HDO of VAN to 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP) is 99%, with ZrO₂ prepared by the precipitation method as the catalyst, isopropanol as the solvent, hydrogen pressure of 5 MPa, reaction time of 24 h, and reaction temperature of 180 °C. A high methylcyclohexanol (MCYL) yield of 99% was obtained for the HDO of VAN, with Co_xO_y prepared by the precipitation method as the catalyst, isopropanol as the solvent, hydrogen pressure of 4 MPa, reaction time of 24 h, and reaction temperature of 170 °C.