The conversion of 1,8-cineole sourced from renewable Eucalyptus oil to p-cymene over a palladium doped γ-Al2O3 catalyst

The conversion of 1,8-cineole, sourced from the steam distillation of Eucalyptus waste, to p-cymene has been studied. Both alumina and palladium on alumina have been found to be active catalysts, the latter producing p-cymene in near quantitative conversion. Catalyst testing coupled with catalyst characterisation showed the catalysts to be multifunctional, promoting dehydration, dehydrogenation and isomerisation in a one step process.

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► Catalytic conversion of renewable Eucalyptus oil to p-cymene and hydrogen.
► High yield and clean catalytic system to produce renewable p-cymene and hydrogen
► Palladium doped alumina catalyst used to produce p-cymene and hydrogen in almost quantitative conversion.
► Catalyst testing coupled with catalyst characterisation showed the catalysts to be multifunctional.
► Dehydration, dehydrogenation and isomerisation in a one step process.