Study on hydrogen generation and cornstalk degradation by redox coupling of non-noble metal Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺

Environmental application of cornstalk and production of hydrogen from biomass are two vital research topics. Herein, a low-cost easy preparing strategy was proposed for trying to give a solution. Non-noble metal of Fe ion was used as an oxidizing agent and electron stockpile carrier for degrading cornstalk and providing e(-) to the cathode. Using proton exchange electrolysis technique, it can realize H-2 production with a Faraday Efficiency of 94.65%. Different influence factors including temperature, electrolytic potential and electrolytic current density were studied. To the degradation products, the preliminary analyses by SEM, FT-IR, GC-MS and 2D HSQC NMR were given. The results demonstrate that Fe3+/Fe2+-cornstalk electrolytic system could give a new pathway for environmental application of cornstalk and production of hydrogen. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.