Sc. Amendola et al., A safe, portable, hydrogen gas generator using aqueous borohydride solution and Ru catalyst, INT J HYD E, 25(10), 2000, pp. 969-975
A safe, simple, compact process generates high-purity hydrogen gas on deman
d from base-stabilized, aqueous solutions of sodium borohydride, NaBH4, by
using a ruthenium, Ru, catalyst. These NaBH4-based solutions can store up t
o 7% hydrogen by weight. NaBH4 solutions do not generate significant amount
s of H-2 gas under ambient conditions. However, when in contact with Ru cat
alyst, NaBH4 solutions spontaneously hydrolyze to form H-2 gas and sodium b
erate, a water-soluble, inert salt. When Ru catalyst is separated from the
NaBH4 solution, H-2 generation stops. This H-2 generator promises to be saf
er, have quicker response to H-2 demand, have a greater H-2 storage efficie
ncy, and be more easily controlled than commonly used H-2 storage devices o
r generators. Nonflammable NaBH4 solutions can be easily coupled to provide
H-2 to internal combustion engines or fuel cell power systems. (C) 2000 In
ternational Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Science
Ltd. All rights reserved.