Fuels production by photoelectrolysis of water and photooxidation of soluble biomass materials

A process for fuels production by photoelectrolysis of water and photooxidation of water soluble biomass product avoiding molecular oxygen evolution comprising:

• passing an aqueous electrolyte comprising oxidizable biomass product selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, polysaccharides, lignins, their partially oxidized products, and mixtures thereof in contact with both electrodes of a plurality of solid photochemical diodes of the type selected from the group consisting of Schottky-type metalized appropriately doped p-type semiconductor, Schottky-type metalized appropriately doped n-type semiconductors, appropriately doped p-n type semiconductors, and mixture thereof, said oxidizable biomass product oxidizing more cathodically than oxygen and having a decomposition potential more negative than said semiconductor;
• optically illuminating said semiconductor portion(s) of said photochemical diodes producing hydrogen as the cathodic reaction of said photochemical diode and producing oxidized biomass product as the anodic reaction of said photochemical diode;
• removing molecular hydrogen from said electrolyte;
• and
• separately removing oxidized biomass product from said electrolyte.