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Photoelectrochemical oxidation of glycerol on hematite: thermal effects, in situ FTIR and long-term HPLC product analysis

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Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation of biomass is a profitable approach to produce hydrogen by substituting the water oxidation reaction in the electrolyzers’ photoanodes. Among the biomass-derived molecules, glycerol is an interesting alternative to water since its standard thermodynamic potential is considerably lower than that of water and because it is widely produced in the biodiesel industry. Herein, we performed a fundamental study of the PEC oxidation of glycerol on hematite. In situ FTIR experiments and long-term electrolysis followed by HPLC analysis revealed C1, C2 and C3 oxidation products showing the low selectivity of the reaction under these conditions. We explained this lack of selectivity by an electrooxidation mechanism involving highly reactive radicals as intermediates.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the FAPESP (Sao Paulo Research Foundation): (grants: #2013/07296-2, 2016/01365-0, 2017/11986-5, 2018/20952-0, 2019/07449-0), Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Grant #430426/2018-6) and Shell and the strategic importance of the support given by the ANP (Brazilian National Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency) through the R&D levy regulation. This study was also financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13565-905, Brazil

    Nickson Perini, Cristian Hessel & Elton Sitta

  2. Center for Innovation on New Energies, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-841, Brazil

    Nickson Perini, Cristian Hessel, José L. Bott-Neto, Cléo T. G. V. M. T. Pires, Pablo S. Fernandez & Elton Sitta

  3. University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13560-970, Brazil

    José L. Bott-Neto, Cléo T. G. V. M. T. Pires & Pablo S. Fernandez

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  1. Nickson Perini
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Correspondence to Elton Sitta.

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Perini, N., Hessel, C., Bott-Neto, J.L. et al. Photoelectrochemical oxidation of glycerol on hematite: thermal effects, in situ FTIR and long-term HPLC product analysis. J Solid State Electrochem 25, 1101–1110 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-020-04878-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-020-04878-7

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