Photocatalytic Conversion of Glucose to Organic Peroxides via Pd/WO3

Abstract Conversion of biomass-derived materials into sustainable chemical feedstocks represents a critical research challenge that has attracted global attention. In this study, we have successfully developed a novel photocatalytic system that generates organic peroxides from glucose under visible-light irradiation using a palladium-loaded tungsten oxide (Pd/WO3) photocatalyst. Mechanistic analysis revealed that the reaction proceeds through a two-step process: photocatalytic generation of H2O2 and organic acids, followed by their catalytic conversion to organic peroxides. The Pd/WO3 photocatalyst demonstrated significantly higher activity compared to unmodified WO3. The loaded Pd nanoparticles were found to promote charge separation, enhancing the production of H2O2 and organic acids, while the WO3 substrate functioned as a catalyst for organic peroxide formation. The generated organic peroxide solution exhibited antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli and demonstrated activity against Bacillus subtilis spores, which are typically resistant to conventional disinfectants such as ethanol. This study presents an environmentally friendly approach for manufacturing high-performance disinfectants from biomass resources using visible-light-driven photocatalytic processes.