Photocatalytic Reforming of Glycerol over Gold and Palladium as an Alternative Fuel Source

The photocatalytic reforming of glycerol to hydrogen over palladium and gold modified TiO₂ catalysts is reported. The rate of hydrogen production exceeds that measured for the photoreforming of methanol over both catalysts with the palladium catalyst performing approximately four times better than the gold. The reaction occurs under ambient conditions and neither system suffered from poisoning after extensive testing. This therefore offers a potentially attractive route by which one of the major waste products from the manufacture of biodiesel can be converted into a useful product.