Experimental, predictive and RSM studies of H2 production using Ag-La-CaTiO3 for water-splitting under visible light

Ag-La-CaTiO 3 was used in place of sacrificial agents to assess the influence of operational factors on hydrogen generation in a photocatalytic water splitting system. After being synthesized, the physicochemical features of this substance were accurately described. Several characterization techniques including UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, XPS, EDX, SEM, TGA, DRS and BET were applied to study the prepared Ag-La-CaTiO 3 photocatalyst. Ag-La-CaTiO 3 shows a band in the visible wavelength between 400 and 800 nm at 2.21 eV). The effects of catalyst concentration, light intensity, and beginning solution pH on the H 2 generation rate may all be evaluated simultaneously using experimental design procedures. Up to a maximum threshold, where a drop in the rate of gas evolution occurs, it was confirmed that the increase in catalyst dose positively affects system productivity. The initial solution pH plays a crucial role in H 2 production, and pH = 4 and 10 are the optimum pH with a higher yield of H 2 production. The highest total H 2 production rate, 6246.09 μmol, was obtained using a catalyst concentration of 700 mg and solution pH equal to 10 under 1200 W Vis lamp for 3 h. For prediction and optimization, a D-Optimal design was applied and the optimal results were pH 4, the catalyst dose of 645.578 mg and 1200 W with H 2 production of 6031.11 μmol.