Hydrogen production from glucose degradation in water and wastewater treated by Ru-LaFeO3/Fe2O3 magnetic particles photocatalysis and heterogeneous photo-Fenton

An optimized Ru-doped LaFeO3 photocatalyst was coupled with magnetic Fe2O3 particles and was tested in the photocatalytic hydrogen production from glucose degradation under visible light irradiation. The catalysts were successfully synthesized by solution combustion synthesis using citric acid as organic fuel. Complete glucose degradation and hydrogen production of 5460 mu mol/L was obtained after 4 h of irradiation using composite containing 67 wt% of Ru-doped LaFeO3. After seven cycles of reuse, the photocatalytic activity did not change, evidencing the high stability of the magnetic photocatalyst, which can be recovered from the photoreactor using an external magnetic force. The recyclable sample was finally tested in the treatment of real wastewater from cherries washing process, and a very high hydrogen production (12344 mu mol/L) was achieved. Finally, the possibility to couple the photocatalytic process (used for the production of hydrogen) with a heterogeneous photo-Fenton process was investigated in order to mineralize the unconverted organics in the wastewater coming from the photoreactor. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.