Photocatalytic hydrogen generation using glycerol wastewater over Pt/TiO2

• DOI: 10.1007/s11458-009-0019-6
• Publication Date: 2009-02-02T15:13:33Z
• Authors: Min Li; Yuexiang Li; Shaoqin Peng; Gongxuan Lu; Shuben Li
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 6. Clean water

Using glycerol as electron donor, photocatalytic hydrogen generation over Pt/TiO2 was investigated. The results show that glycerol can not only improve the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen generation but can also be decomposed effectively. The factors which affect photocatalytic hydrogen generation, such as irradiation time, initial concentration of the glycerol solution, pH-value of the suspensions and the coexisting substances were studied. The final oxidation products of glycerol were H2O and CO2. Glyceraldhyde, glycoladehyde, glycolic acid and formaldehyde were identified as the intermediates. A possible reaction mechanism was discussed.