Oxidized graphitic carbon nitride (o-g-C3N4) and Evonik AEROXIDE (R) P25 TiO2 were compared for lab-scale photocatalytic H-2 evolution from aqueous sacrificial biomass-derivatives, under simulated solar light. Experiments in aqueous starch using Pt or Cu-Ni as the co-catalysts indicated that H-2 production is affected by co-catalyst type and loading, with the greatest hydrogen evolution rates (HER) up to 453 and 806 mu mol g(-1) h(-1) using TiO2 coupled with 3 wt% Cu-Ni or 0.5 wt% Pt, respectively. Despite the lower surface area, o-g-C3N4 gave HERs up to 168 and 593 mu mol g(-1) h(-1) coupled with 3 wt% Cu-Ni or 3 wt% Pt. From mono- and di-saccharide solutions, H-2 evolution was in the range 504-1170 mu mol g(-1) h(-1) for Pt/TiO2 and 339-912 mu mol g(-1) h(-1) for Cu-Ni/TiO2, respectively; o-g-C3N4 was efficient as well, providing HERs of 90-610 mu mol g(-1) h(-1). The semiconductors were tested in sugar-rich wastewaters obtaining HERs up to 286 mu mol g(-1) h(-1). Although HERs were lower compared to Pt/TiO2, a cheap, eco-friendly and non-nanometric catalyst such as o-g-C3N4, coupled to non-noble metals, provided a more sustainable H-2 evolution. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.