Hydrogen photoproduction from bio-derived alcohols in an optical fiber honeycomb reactor loaded with Au/TiO2

• Photogeneration of H2 from water–alcohol is enhanced in optical fiber honeycombs.
• The amount of H2 produced is: methanol ∼ ethanol ∼ glycerol > bio-ethanol ≫ bio-glycerol. Impurities in bio-alcohols inhibit hole scavenging capacity.

Cordierite honeycombs loaded with 1 wt.% Au/TiO2 have been used in an optical fiber photoreactor illuminated with UV LEDs to produce hydrogen at 298 K from aqueous methanol, ethanol, glycerol, bio-ethanol, and bio-glycerol in liquid phase. The amount of alcohol has been varied between 1% and 100%. Under the same photoreaction conditions, the amount of hydrogen produced follows the trend: methanol ∼ ethanol ∼ glycerol > bio-ethanol ≫ bio-glycerol. Hydrogen photogeneration is significantly enhanced (4–5-fold increase) in the optical fiber honeycomb photoreactor with respect to a conventional slurry photoreactor.

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