Environmental-friendly utilization and conversion of abundant lignocellulosic biomass waste into chemical fuels is considered as one of the efficient approaches developing renewable energy. Herein, we merge photocatalysis and acid hydrolysis to solve problems in biomass conversion and hydrogen production. Specifically, photocatalytic reforming cellulose to hydrogen has been accomplished by hydrolysis of cellulose in 0.6 M sulfuric acid solution at 403 K in the presence of a photocatalyst (e.g. platinized TiO₂) under UV-light irradiation. Carbohydrates as the sacrificial electron donors are in situ generated via acid hydrolysis of cellulose. An unexpected production of 5-hydroxyl methyl furfural (HMF) has also been found during the combined process. In addition, efficient and repeatable hydrogen production has been achieved from photoreforming of raw biomass waste (paper pulp) as continuous supply of electron donors. Compared to traditional thermochemical gasification or pyrolysis of cellulose in high temperature and pressure, this work provides an alternative approach for producing hydrogen and valuable chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass.

对环境的利用以及将丰富的木质纤维素生物质废物转化为化学燃料被视为开发可再生能源的有效方法之一。在本文中，我们将光催化和酸水解相结合，以解决生物质转化和制氢方面的问题。具体地，已经通过在光催化剂（例如，镀铂的TiO ₂）的存在下在紫外光照射下，在0.6M硫酸溶液中于403K下将纤维素在0.6M硫酸溶液中水解来完成将纤维素光催化重整为氢。作为牺牲电子供体的碳水化合物是通过以下途径原位产生的纤维素的酸水解。在合并过程中还发现了意外的5-羟基甲基糠醛（HMF）产生。此外，通过对原始生物质废料（纸浆）进行光重整作为电子供体的连续供应，可以实现高效且可重复的制氢。与在高温和高压下对纤维素进行传统的热化学气化或热解相比，这项工作为从木质纤维素生物质生产氢气和有价值的化学物质提供了另一种方法。