Room temperature versatile conversion of biomass-derived compounds by means of supported TiO2 photocatalysts

The selective oxidation of glucose and degradation of phenol in liquid phase were studied in the presence of supported TiO2 photocatalysts. Photocatalysts were synthesized by a modified ultrasound-assisted sol–gel method. The fact of supporting TiO2 on zeolite type Y is giving more selective photocatalyst in glucose oxidation toward glucaric acid (GUA) and gluconic acid (GA) (total selectivity approx. 68%, after 10 min illumination time and 50%H2O/50%acetonitrile solvent composition) than the unsupported TiO2 and the commercially available photocatalyst Evonik P-25. Photocatalysts worked at room temperature, atmospheric pressure and very short reaction times (up to 15 min). Additionally, these photocatalysts were investigated in the mineralization of phenol as a cellulosic industries water contaminant. It was observed that fumed silica is a better option than zeolite as titania support in phenol aqueous degradation.Ultrasound-promoted sol–gel methodology is giving promising supported TiO2 photocatalysts for water purification and solar chemicals production.

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► Novel supported titania photocatalysts by a modified ultrasound-assisted sol–gel technique.
► Glucose photocatalytic selective oxidation to glucaric acid and gluconic acid.
► Prepared photocatalysts with high potential for water (phenol removal) purification and solar chemicals production.
► Simplification of conventional multistep synthesis of valuable compounds to a one-pot photocatalytic pathway.