Selective Photocatalytic Oxidation of 4-Methoxybenzyl Alcohol to p-Anisaldehyde in Organic-Free Water in a Continuous Annular Fixed Bed Reactor

Photocatalytic oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol to p-anisaldehyde was performed in water organic-free solutions by using a fixed bed continuous photoreactor containing Pyrex beads on which a TiO2 home prepared photocatalyst was supported. The influence of liquid flow rate, inlet alcohol concentration and catalyst amount on the photoprocess was studied. The highest selectivity to p-anisaldehyde was about 47% being CO2, the other main oxidation product; traces of 4-methoxybenzoic acid were also detected. The radiation field inside the photoreactor has been modelled by applying the Monte Carlo method thus allowing the determination of the local volumetric rate of photon absorption (LVRPA).…