Influence of process parameters on enhanced hydrogen generation via semi-methanolysis and semi-ethanolysis reactions of sodium borohydride using phosphoric acid

The sodium borohydride(NaBH4) semi-methanolysis and semi-ethanolysis reactions to produce hydrogen are investigated using phosphoric acid(H3PO4) for the first time. The NaBH4 concentration, H3PO4 concentration, and temperature parameters on these semi-alcoholysis reactions are evaluated. The normalized hydrogen generation rates (HGRs) obtained from the NaBH4 semi-methanolysis and semi-ethanolysis acidified using 0.5 M H3PO4 are 11684 and 9981 ml min(-1) g(-1), respectively. Moreover, the completion times of these semi-methanolysis and semi-ethanolysis reactions with 0.5 M H3PO4 acid concentration are 0.10 and 0.116 min, respectively. Kinetic studies with the power-law model are evaluated. The activation energies(Ea) obtained for the NaBH4 semi-methanolysis and semi-ethanolysis using 0.5 M H3PO4 are 9.08 and 32.47 kJ mol(-1), respectively. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.