Laser-induced photocatalysis and its applications in petrochemicals, fuel cells and phenol degradation

Laser induced photocatalysis was applied for conversion of methane into high value hydrocarbons like methanol, and for splitting of water to generate hydrogen for fuel cell technology and for removal of phenol from wastewater. A comparative study was conducted for laser induced photo-catalytic processes for these applications over Fe₂O₃, WO₃, TiO₂, and NiO catalysts under the irradiation of a strong laser beam at 355 nm. The activity of these catalysts and various electron capture agents such as Fe⁺³, Ag⁺, Al⁺³, and Li⁺ in the water splitting process were studied. The reaction rates and the yield of hydrogen and oxygen produced were enhanced considerably by the addition of electron capture agents. Initially the methanol yield increased rapidly with time, reached a maximum value, and started to decrease afterwards. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol using UV laser was much faster as compared with the conventional sources such as broad UV spectral lamps. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 15th Annual Saudi-Japanese Symposium: Catalysts in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 11/27-28/2005).