Photocatalytic Biohydrogen Production Using ZnO from Aqueous Glycerol Solution with Aid of Simultaneous Cu Deposition

The photocatalytic biohydrogen generation using ZnO with the aid of simultaneous deposition of copper from an aqueous biomass-derivative glycerol solution was investigated. The effects of concentration of glycerol solution, Cu ion concentration and reaction temperature on biohydrogen generation were investigated. The photocatalytic biohydrogen production rate increased with increasing the concentration of aqueous glycerol solution, and the observed data could be fitted to the Langmuire-Hinshelwood kinetic models. The photocatalytic H2 production efficiency with ZnO could be significantly improved by simultaneous Cu deposition. The photocatalytic biohydrogen production rate was dependent on temperature, and increased with the increasing temperature. The possible mechanisms for oxidation of glycerol solution and photocatalytic hydrogen generation were proposed.