%P 1307-1318
%T Enhanced microalgal hydrogen production subsisting on visible light TiO2 nanotubes photocatalyst pre-treated palm kernel expeller
%V 54
%A N.T. Sahrin
%A F.M. Ardo
%A U. Suparmaniam
%A A. Ramli
%A J.C. Sin
%A S.M. Lam
%A W. Da Oh
%A B.S. Chidi
%A H.-S. Ng
%A M.K. Shahid
%A A.M. Tawfeek
%A K.S. Khoo
%A J.W. Lim
%O cited By 2
%L scholars19907
%J International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
%D 2024
%R 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.12.099
%X The present study investigated the application of photocatalytic process using TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) photocatalyst as an effective pre-treatment method for palm kernel expeller (PKE) in increasing its biodegradability to enhance the microalgal hydrogen production via dark fermentation. A series of TiO2 NTs photocatalysts were synthesized via employing electrochemical anodization of Ti foil at various voltages each in different types of electrolytes (choline chloride-ethylene glycol (ChCl-EG), choline chloride-urea (ChCl-U), choline chloride-glycerol (ChCl-Gly)). Increasing trend of average NTs diameters at 26.14 ± 1.30, 73.01 ± 1.94 and 122.00 ± 13.32 nm was observed for 25, 30 and 35 V in synthesizing TiO2 NTs using suitable ChCl-EG electrolyte, respectively. The high 35 V had resulted in noticeable pore ruptures within this TiO2 NTs photocatalyst. The PKE pre-treated by TiO2 NTs photocatalyst anodized at optimum 30 V in ChCl-EG electrolyte had demonstrated the highest releases of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentrations at 594 and 607 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, the microalgal efficiency of BOD5 conversion and hydrogen yield were also consistently maintained from third cycle of TiO2 NTs photocatalyst's reutilizations, signifying the stability of TiO2 NTs photocatalyst. © 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC
%K Biochemical oxygen demand; Biodegradability; Chlorine compounds; Electrolytes; Ethylene; Ethylene glycol; Fermentation; Hydrogen production; Nanotubes; Oxygen; Titanium dioxide; Urea, Choline chloride; Dark fermentation; Green hydrogen production; Micro-algae; Palm kernel; Palm kernel expeller; Photocatalytic process; Pretreatment methods; TiO 2 nanotube; Visible light, Microalgae