Preparation and characterization of activated aluminum powder by magnetic grinding method for hydrogen generation

Abstract

SUMMARYIn this paper, activated aluminum powder was prepared by magnetic grinding with a homemade equipment and hydrolyzed in alkaline solution to produce hydrogen. The results showed that the prepared aluminum powder could improve hydrolysis reactivity effectively and have high hydrogen yield in alkaline solution (up to 1340 mL/g). It was found that grinding time, reaction temperature and grinding media could significantly affect the hydrolysis reaction while alloy components had little effect. Aluminum powder ground for 40 min can produce hydrogen 1340 mL/g within 6 min under optimal reaction temperature of 323 K. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Highly efficient hydrolysis of magnetic milled powder from waste aluminum (Al) cans with low‐concentrated alkaline solution for hydrogen generation

“…Tasteless and colorless, hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on the earth despite the fact that it did not exist freely in the nature . Therefore, highly efficient production of hydrogen is urgently required to realize the upcoming “hydrogen economy.” There are several methods for hydrogen production, including catalytic steam reforming, coal gasification, electrolysis of water, and artificial photosynthesis . Although currently 95% of hydrogen is generated from fossil fuel resources, they still suffer from expensive production processes and serious CO 2 emissions, endowing hydrogen not an economic environmentally friendly energy carrier .…”

“…Another way is using hydroxide ions (OH − ) in alkaline solutions to etch the Al 2 O 3 surface during the H 2 production . The aluminum oxide layer is passive in the neutral solution, but it can be dissolved in the alkaline solution by the chemical reaction between OH − and Al 2 O 3 with the following reaction . The formed Al (OH) 4 − is readily dissolved in alkaline solution and allows the aluminum‐water reaction to proceed continuously and release large amounts of hydrogen.…”

“…The formed Al (OH) 4 − is readily dissolved in alkaline solution and allows the aluminum‐water reaction to proceed continuously and release large amounts of hydrogen. However, the use of these strong alkali solutions causes the equipment corrosion and environmental pollution . Apart from the using of alloy and alkaline solutions mentioned above, Al plates could be directly milled into smaller particles to increase the specific surface area and chemical activity, which facilitates the continuous generation of hydrogen.…”

“…8,9 There are several methods for hydrogen production, including catalytic steam reforming, coal gasification, electrolysis of water, and artificial photosynthesis. 10,11 Although currently 95% of Hangqi Yang and Honglei Zhang contributed equally. hydrogen is generated from fossil fuel resources, they still suffer from expensive production processes and serious CO 2 emissions, endowing hydrogen not an economic environmentally friendly energy carrier.…”

“…15,16,[24][25][26] The aluminum oxide layer is passive in the neutral solution, but it can be dissolved in the alkaline solution by the chemical reaction between OH − and Al 2 O 3 with the following reaction. 11 The formed Al (OH) 4 − is readily dissolved in alkaline solution and allows the aluminum-water reaction to proceed continuously and release large amounts of hydrogen. However, the use of these strong alkali solutions causes the equipment corrosion and environmental pollution.…”