Biomass electrolysis enables hydrogen (H₂) production at onset voltages of less than 1 V, depending on the fuel species. However, biofuel derived from biomass not categorized as food and produced from environmentally friendly processes is needed for the development of sustainable strategies. In addition, the biofuel should not require special and expensive procedures for processing. The present report describes the direct electrolysis of waste newspaper for H₂ production. Cellulose and lignin included in the newspaper were subject to dissolution and hydrolysis in a phosphoric acid solvent at the anode in a temperature range of 100–175 °C. The resulting decomposition products were electrolyzed to H₂ and carbon dioxide (CO₂), at low onset voltages (ca. 0.2 V) and high current efficiencies (H₂: 1.0, CO₂: 0.9). Carbon black functionalized with carbonyl groups showed greater catalytic activity than a Pt/C catalyst for the anode reaction. H₂ yield reached ca. 0.2 g per 1 g of newspaper in a batch cell. H₂ was produced continuously in a current-density range of 0.15–0.25 A cm⁻² while maintaining plateau-like voltage behavior in a flow cell. The energy consumed for electrolysis at a current density of 0.15 A cm⁻² was as low as 1.27 kWh (Nm³)⁻¹.

根据燃料种类，生物质电解能够在小于1 V的起始电压下产生氢气（H ₂）。但是，从可持续发展的战略发展中，需要的是不属于食品的生物质衍生的生物燃料，而是通过环境友好的过程生产的生物燃料。另外，生物燃料不应要求特殊且昂贵的处理程序。本报告描述了废报纸的直接电解，用于生产H ₂。报纸中包含的纤维素和木质素在100-175°C的温度范围内在阳极的磷酸溶剂中溶解和水解。将生成的分解产物电解为H ₂和二氧化碳（CO ₂），低启动电压（约0.2 V）和高电流效率（H ₂：1.0，CO ₂：0.9）。对于阳极反应，用羰基官能化的炭黑显示出比Pt / C催化剂更高的催化活性。H ₂产量达到约。批处理单元中每1克报纸0.2克。H ₂在0.15-0.25 A cm ^-2的电流密度范围内连续产生，同时在流通池中保持平稳的平台行为。在电流密度为0.15 A cm ^-2时电解消耗的能量低至1.27 kWh（Nm ³）^-1。