Valorisation of terpenes by continuous flow hydrogenation over 3D-printed Palladium catalysts

Abstract

The hydrogenation of the monoterpene β-myrcene, the sesquiterpene farnesene and the triterpene squalene was studied in a custom-built continuous flow reactor using 3D printed stainless steel static mixers coated with Palladium catalyst. Full hydrogenation was achieved in a facile and cost-effective fashion using Catalytic Static Mixer (CSM) technology. Wash coated Pd/Al₂O₃ CSMs for the hydrogenation of β-myrcene in ethyl acetate and electroplated Pd CSMs proved to be efficient for the hydrogenation of farnesene and squalene in solvent-free reactions to produce the fully hydrogenated terpenes 2,6-dimethyloctane, farnesane and squalane.