The catalytic process of aldehyde production from alkaline lignin extracted from sugarcane bagasse was evaluated in a batch slurry reactor and operated in a continuous three-phase fluidized-bed reactor with a palladium catalyst, at the operating conditions 373-413K under 2-10bar oxygen partial pressure. The scale-up of the fine aldehyde production process from batch to continuous operation presented a yield increase of approximately 15 times higher in 2h of operation. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.