Route of glycerol conversion and product generation via TiO2-induced photocatalytic oxidation in the presence of H2O2

The objective of this study was to explore the route of glycerol conversion and product generation via the TiO2-induced photocatalytic oxidation in the presence of H2O2. Effects of TiO2 dosage (1-3 g/L), H2O2 concentration (0.3-1.5 M), light UV intensity (1.1-4.7 mW/cm2) and irradiation time (4-8 h) on the level of glycerol conversion and product selectivity were identified using a 2k factorial design. It was found that TiO2 and H2O2 played a simultaneous positive effect on the glycerol conversion in the presence of UV-light. Among all investigated parameters, the most important parameter on glycerol conversion and product selectivity was the irradiation time. Glycerol conversion and product generation can proceed via both h+-mediate and radical-mediated routes, but the radical-mediated route was dominant.