Hydrogenation of cinnamic acid and salicylic acid was carried out using 5 %Ru/C, 5 % Pd/C and Ru-Sn/Al2O3 catalyst at 493 K and 6.89 MPa of hydrogen partial pressure. Ru-Sn/Al2O3 catalyst was found to be active for hydrogenation -COOH group to give cinnamyl alcohol. The selectivity to cinnamyl alcohol was low (15 %) as absolute inhibition of C=C bond hydrogenation in cinnamic acid is challenging. 5 %Pd/C catalyst was found to hydrogenate C=C bond and aromatic ring in cinnamic acid. 5 %Ru/C catalyst was found to be least selective catalyst as it hydrogenated C=C bond, aromatic ring and -COOH group in cinnamic acid. Hydrogenation of salicylic acid is not possible at 493 K as decarboxylation of salicylic acid occurs.

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