Enhancement of photoinduced hydrogen production from irradiated Pt/TiO2 suspensions with simultaneous degradation of azo-dyes

The production of hydrogen from aqueous Pt/TiO₂ suspensions illuminated with UV–vis light has been examined in the absence and in presence of azo-dyes in solution. The effects of operational variables, including dye concentration, solution pH and temperature, on the rate of hydrogen production were investigated. It has been found that deposition of Pt (0.5 wt.%) on the semiconductor surface results in an increase of the H₂ production rate, which goes through a maximum with time of irradiation and then drops to steady-state values comparable to those obtained over bare TiO₂. Both, maximum and steady-state rates obtained over Pt/TiO₂ suspensions were found to increase with increasing solution pH and temperature. Addition of small quantities of azo-dyes in solution results in significantly enhanced rates of H₂ production for a period which depends on dye concentration, solution pH and, to a lesser extent, solution temperature. It is proposed that the dye acts as a scavenger of photogenerated oxidizing species while it is degraded toward CO₂ and inorganic ions. When complete mineralization is achieved, oxygen can no longer be removed from the photocatalyst surface and the rate drops to steady-state values, comparable to those obtained in the absence of azo-dye in solution. The amount of additional H₂ produced is directly proportional to the amount of dye added in the solution. The rate increases with increasing solution pH, where dye degradation is faster, indicating that the process is limited by the rate of consumption of photogenerated oxygen. It is concluded that, under certain experimental conditions, it is possible to obtain significantly enhanced rates of photoinduced hydrogen production from Pt/TiO₂ suspensions with simultaneous mineralization of azo-dyes. The process could be used for combined production of fuel H₂ and degradation of organic pollutants present in water.