The Influence of the Catalyst on the Photacatalytic Synthesis of Vanillin

This work reports on the influence of the catalyst on a "green" catatytic process. Vanillin was synthesied by photocatalytuc oxidation of ferulic acid in aqueos suspensions at room temperature by using commercial and home prepared samples as catalysit. Different values of selectivity were obtained depending on the physico-chemical properties of the single samples. In particular, a selectivity of 21% was reached with amixed sample containing 10% of WO3 with respect to TiO2. The production of vanillin rather than the miniralization of ferulic acid was ascribed to the pr3sence of two types of sites on the surface of the catalysts which are specific fo rthe occurance of miniralization or partial oxidation of the substrate.