Photocatalytic Reforming of Lignocelluloses, Glycerol, and Chlorella to Hydrogen

Bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas have gained much attention as sustainable energy alternatives to petroleum‐based fuels. Bioethanol production is the most typical method to provide liquid fuel. Recently cellulosic materials have been recognized as one of the promising sources for bioethanol, since they are not directly in competition with food sources. However, ethanol concentration is usually too low to separate by distillation at a low‐energy cost. Gaseous H2 is spontaneously isolated without operation to separate. Therefore, H2 production is an economical approach to biofuels. Photocatalytic H2 production over a Pt‐loaded TiO2 is initiated by the charge separation. Electrons reduce water to generate H2, while holes oxidize hydroxide to hydroxyl radicals. Generally, the use of sacrificial agents remarkably accelerates the H2 production since the hydroxyl radical is consumed by them. This chapter deals with the photocatalytic H2 production (PR) using sacrificial water‐soluble materials derived from lignocelluloses, lipids, and Chlorella. Lignocellulosic Italian ryegrass (2.00 g) was turned into H2 (78.7 mg) through alkali treatment, hydrolysis, and PR processes. The PR process of glycerol (10.4 g) and methanol (11.3 g), which were by‐products in biodiesel synthesis, formed H2 (3.10 g). Dried Chlorella (10 g) was turned into H2 (578 mg) by protease hydrolysis and PR