A new use for modified sugarcane bagasse containing adsorbed Co2+ and Cr3+: Catalytic oxidation of terpenes

- Novel application for adsorbents after treating solutions containing metal ions.
- New biobased heterogeneous catalysts were prepared for monoterpenes oxidation.
- Production of high economic value oxygenated derivatives from monoterpenes.
- Conversions among 49 and 78% and combined selectivity up to 59% were obtained.

This study describes the applicability of two chemically modified sugarcane bagasses containing either adsorbed Co2+ or Cr3+ ions as heterogeneous catalysts for the autooxidation of monoterpenes. The main objective was to investigate new uses for these adsorbent materials which had been previously employed for treatment of aqueous solutions or effluents containing metals such as Co2+ and Cr3+. The adsorption efficiency of Co2+ and Cr3+ on SCB2 and EB was evaluated by adsorption isotherms and other techniques such as XRD, ICP-AES and TGA. Catalytic activity of the four new catalysts, SCB2-Co, SCB2-Cr, EB-Co, and EB-Cr, were assessed in the oxidation reaction of β-citronellol(1), (+)-limonene(2), and (−)-β-pinene(3) in a free solvent system. Results obtained demonstrated that these materials were promising catalysts for the oxidation of monoterpenes. Reactant conversion ranged from 49 to 78% as determined by GC analysis and a combined selectivity up to 59% for the oxidation products was achieved.