The overall size of the silicon/glass microreactor chip used was 23 mm × 23 mm with a reaction channel dimension of 0.6 mm (W) × 0.3 mm (H) × 190 mm (L). A pillar structure (small rectangular posts of 60 μm (W) × 1 mm (L)) was arranged at 40 μm intervals near the outlet of the reaction channel to retain the catalyst. A schematic representation and the detailed procedure of operating MPBR are presented elsewhere.32,33 The prepared catalyst powder was pelletized and then crushed to obtain the desired particle size fraction by sieving. The catalyst was introduced into the reaction channel through the gas inlet with the help of a vacuum pulled at the outlet of the reaction channel. The packed microreactor was then assembled with a heating and temper- ature control unit. During the reaction, benzyl alcohol was delivered into the reactor by a syringe pump. Gases were reg- ulated by mass flow controllers (Brooks 5850TR) and directed to the gas inlet of the reactor. The gas flow rate reported here is in mL min−1 at Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP, 273 K and 1.01325 bar). The effluent from the reactor passed into a small glass vial (2 ml) which was located in a cold trap (ice-water bath), where gas and liquid were separated.