Biofuel production, hydrogen production and water remediation by photocatalysis, biocatalysis and electrocatalysis

TLDR

The energy crisis and environmental pollution have spurred research into green catalytic methods that produce biofuels and clean water, with waste‑derived or inexpensive catalysts offering circular‑economy benefits. This review surveys environmental photocatalysis, biocatalysis, and electrocatalysis, concentrating on catalyst synthesis, structural features, and practical applications. Typical catalysts include biomass‑derived materials, metal–organic frameworks, non‑noble metal nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and enzymes, whose structures are characterized by BET, thermogravimetry, X‑ray diffraction, and photoelectron spectroscopy. The studies show water pollutants can be degraded 71.7–100 % via heterogeneous Fenton catalysis, photocatalytic hydrogen production exceeds 100 μmol h⁻¹, methane cracking yields 27–88 % H₂, and biodiesel production reaches 48.6–99 %.

Abstract

Abstract The energy crisis and environmental pollution have recently fostered research on efficient methods such as environmental catalysis to produce biofuel and to clean water. Environmental catalysis refers to green catalysts used to breakdown pollutants or produce chemicals without generating undesirable by-products. For example, catalysts derived from waste or inexpensive materials are promising for the circular economy. Here we review environmental photocatalysis, biocatalysis, and electrocatalysis, with focus on catalyst synthesis, structure, and applications. Common catalysts include biomass-derived materials, metal–organic frameworks, non-noble metals nanoparticles, nanocomposites and enzymes. Structure characterization is done by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller isotherm, thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy. We found that water pollutants can be degraded with an efficiency ranging from 71.7 to 100%, notably by heterogeneous Fenton catalysis. Photocatalysis produced dihydrogen (H 2 ) with generation rate higher than 100 μmol h −1 . Dihydrogen yields ranged from 27 to 88% by methane cracking. Biodiesel production reached 48.6 to 99%.