Bifunctional photocatalytic reforming of biomass for hydrogen and value-added chemicals

Identifier:  TDX:4539

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4539

Authors:  Aboagye, Dominic

Abstract:
The fossil fuel-based chemical industry significantly impacts climate change, driving the need for sustainable alternatives. Biomass photoreforming, which uses solar energy and semiconductor photocatalysts, has potential but faces challenges like low efficiency and selectivity due to biomass's complexity. This PhD thesis introduces a novel photocatalytic biorefinery process to convert lignocellulosic biomass into high-value chemicals and hydrogen, addressing these challenges. The study focuses on three areas: improving lignin depolymerization using mechanocatalysis and photocatalysis, managing radical oxidation with an ultrathin g-C₃N₄-TiO₂ catalyst to break lignin bonds, and developing a Pt/g-C₃N₄-TiO₂ system for co-producing hydrogen and chemicals. The research achieves high conversion rates and efficient hydrogen and value-added chemical production, providing a detailed understanding of the mechanisms involved. This work marks a significant advancement in using photocatalysis for sustainable energy and valuable product generation under mild conditions.