Abstract
Crude glycerol (10% w/w) is produced as a substantial byproduct during the industrial production of biodiesel via transesterification processes. Catalytic hydrogen (H2) generation by utilizing crude glycerol and solar light is considered as a promising avenue. The present work illustrates enhanced rates of H2 generation and cocatalyst behavior of Ni(OH)2 decorated on TiO2 nanotubes dispersed in aqueous crude glycerol solution (industrial byproduct) under solar light irradiation. The catalyst characterization reveals that the TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) are of anatase phase with length ranges from 100 to 300 nm and diameters from 4.9 to 9.8 nm. The Ni(OH)2 quantum dots deposited on TNT have an average particle size of 8.4 nm. The presence of Ni(OH)2 on TNT and oxidation states of Ti4+ and Ni2+ cations are confirmed by XPS analysis. The optimal loading of Ni (2.0 wt %) leads to a high rate of photocatalytic H2 generation of 4719 μmol h–1 gcat–1 and it is ∼12-fold higher than pristine TNT. The solar light energy co...
Published Version
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