DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DUAL-FUNCTION PHOTOCATALYTIC SYSTEMS FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT
This doctoral thesis focuses on developing bifunctional photocatalysts for the simultaneous production of hydrogen and degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater through photoreforming. Real effluents from the food industry, ethoxylated surfactant production, paper manufacturing, and urban wastewater were studied. Materials based on TiO₂, C₃N₄, and their composites were tested under lab conditions and in a pre-pilot solar reactor.
One key result was the high hydrogen production of Pt/TiO₂(SA) in highly alkaline wastewater (>1.3 mmol/ (g h)), attributed to its affinity for hydroxyl-rich organic molecules. Ultrasound-exfoliated C₃N₄ also performed well under visible light, and TiO₂–C₃N₄ composites like CN-P25 remained active under harsh conditions.
In real scenarios, effluents containing simple sugars boosted H₂ generation above 2.5 mmol/ g, and wastewater with PEGs reached up to 4 mmol/ g. Outdoor experiments validated the process’s feasibility, showing a strong correlation between solar irradiance, hydrogen evolution, and pollutant removal, as confirmed by decreased COD and pH levels.
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