Fuels production by photoelectrolysis of water and photooxidation of soluble biomass materials

Patent · Tue Mar 20 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6479148

Sammells, A F; John, M R

A process and apparatus for production of fuels by photoelectrolysis of water and photooxidation of water soluble biomass and a process for preparation of Schottky-type metalized, appropriately doped n-type semiconductor photochemical diodes suitable for use in the above process and apparatus. The production of hydrogen by photoelectrolysis of water as the cathodic reaction of an optically illuminated photochemical diode is effected in an aqueous electrolyte which comprises a biomass product which may be monosaccharides, polysaccharides, lignins, their partially oxidized products, and mixtures thereof which are oxidized as the anodic reaction of the photochemical diode producing liquid fuels and useful chemicals. Molecular oxygen evolution is avoided and utilization of biomass product provides a cost effective material to increase fuels and useful chemical production by photoelectrolysis of water at potentials substantially less than required for normal water electrolysis involving oxygen evolution.

• Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
• Patent Number(s): US 4437954
• OSTI ID: 6479148
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080106* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Biosynthesis & Photochemical Processes
09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122 -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
BIOMASS
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
ENERGY SOURCES
FABRICATION
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
LYSIS
MATERIALS
N-TYPE CONDUCTORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTODIODES
PHOTOELECTROLYSIS
PRODUCTION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SACCHARIDES
SCHOTTKY BARRIER DIODES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLUBILITY
SYNTHETIC FUELS
WATER