Selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde over ZSM-5 supported Co catalysts

ZSM-5 supported Co catalysts were synthesized for the selective reduction of cinnamaldehyde (CMA) to the corresponding cinnamyl alcohol (CMO). The effects of the support (ratio of Si/Al of ZSM-5), catalysts pre-treatment (calcination) and catalyst amount on the conversion of CMA and selectivity to CMO were studied. The results showed that a lower ratio of Si/Al showed higher activity and the catalyst exhibited the highest yield of CMO when the ratio of Si/Al for ZSM-5 was 25. The conversion of CMA increased with the increase of catalyst amount. The reaction results showed that the highest activity occurred when the calcination temperature was 873 K, and the optimum CMO yield was obtained from the catalyst calcined at 773 K. The optimum CMO yield (61.9 %) obtained from Co/ZSM-5(25) catalyst (0.6 g) after reaction for 6 h.