WO1981003324A1 - Material and method for obtaining hydrogen by dissociation of water - Google Patents

Material and method for obtaining hydrogen by dissociation of water Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1981003324A1
WO1981003324A1 PCT/US1981/000676 US8100676W WO8103324A1 WO 1981003324 A1 WO1981003324 A1 WO 1981003324A1 US 8100676 W US8100676 W US 8100676W WO 8103324 A1 WO8103324 A1 WO 8103324A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
aluminum
mercury
sodium
amalgam
water
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1981/000676
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
E Anderson
Original Assignee
E Anderson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by E Anderson filed Critical E Anderson
Priority to AU72980/81A priority Critical patent/AU7298081A/en
Publication of WO1981003324A1 publication Critical patent/WO1981003324A1/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/06—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen, e.g. water, acids, bases, ammonia, with inorganic reducing agents
    • C01B3/08—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen, e.g. water, acids, bases, ammonia, with inorganic reducing agents with metals
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C30/00—Alloys containing less than 50% by weight of each constituent
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C7/00—Alloys based on mercury
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a material for and method of effecting the decomposition/dissociation of water to form hydrogen.
  • the water is reacted with an amalgam of sodium, aluminum and mercury to form hydrogen and a metallic hydroxide believed to be Na 3 AL(OH) g .
  • the material found as suitable for generation of hydrogen from water without spontaneous combus ⁇ tion of the resultant evolved hydrogen comprises an amalgam of (1) an alkali metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium or combinations thereof, (2) aluminum and (3) mercury.
  • the particle size of the sodium and aluminum is such as to facilitate formation of an amalgam.
  • the amalgam has been prepared utilizing sodium of about 1/4 inch diameter and aluminu within the range of about 10 to about 100 mesh.
  • the particle si of either the alkali metal or the aluminum is not critical for proper mixing or blending, but the presence of impurities advers effect such mixing.
  • the weight ratio of alkali- metal to mercury may be fro about 1:100 to about 100:1 and the weight ratio of alkali metal to aluminum may be from about 1:100 to 100:1.
  • the weight ratio of alkali metal to mercury is from about 3:1 to about 1:4.5 and the weight ratio of alkali metal to aluminum is from about 1:4 to about 3:1.
  • the water reacts with the alkal metal, e.g., sodium, and the aluminum liberating hydrogen to form Na,AL(0H) fi .
  • the reaction of the water with the amalgam is substantially different from the reaction of the alkali metal component of the amalgam with water.
  • the heat generated by reaction of equivalent amounts of alkali metal in the form of th amalgam is. substantially less than where the alkali metal alone ' is reacted with water. Accordingly, spontaneous combustion of the hydrogen in an oxidizing environment as well as the formatio of a highly stable sodium product is avoided where the amalgam o the invention is employed in place of the alkali metal alone.
  • the process may be depicted as follows:
  • amalgam of sodium, aluminum and mercury is prepare utilizing any known procedure for amalgamation with the added important proviso that an inert atmosphere be maintained during amalgamation.
  • Amalgamation may be facilitated by utilization of an elevated temperature preferably around 200° C. — 10° C.
  • the amalgam is preferably maintained at this elevated temperature fo about 10 minutes where 100 grams are being processed and the tim is extended about a minute for each additional 100 gram aliquot.
  • the resulting amalgam is cooled, generally to room temperature, utilizing an inert atmosphere.
  • an inert atmosphere for this purpose, either helium or nitrogen are satisfactory. Cooling is preferably effected in a dessicator to insure that no water contacts the amalgam.
  • the amalgam solidifies and may be contacted with water by submersion, by spraying the water thereupon, by impinging water in the form of steam thereon or in any other manner.
  • 35.144 parts by weight of sodium, 13.749 parts by weig of aluminum and 51.107 parts by weight of mercury are formed into an amalgam under an inert atmosphere of nitrogen at an elevated temperature of 200° C. in graphite crucible.
  • the resulting amalgam is cooled to room temperature in a dessicator under an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Thereafter, the amalgam is formed which is a solid but which will liquefy upon agitation.
  • amalgam should be prepared in an inert gas atmosphere to prevent premature hydrox ⁇ ide formation.
  • the amalgam is placed in a suitable container with one surface thereof exposed. Water is sprayed upon the exposed surface or alternatively the exposed surface may be covered entirely with a layer of water. It is necessary that the amalga be placed within a container because in the course of contact of the amalgam with water the heat generated during the course of hydrogen generation transforms the amalgam to liquid form. The amalgam regardless of how it is contacted with water will not cause an explosion.

Abstract

A material and method of producing hydrogen by decomposition of water. The material is an amalgam of an alkali metal, mercury and aluminum and hydrogen is produced by contacting water therewith.

Description

MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING HYDROGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation-In-Part of appli¬ cation Serial No. 902,705, entitled MATERIAL AND METHOD OF OBTAIN¬ ING HYDROGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER, filed on May 4, 1978, and of application Serial No. 06/068,749, entitled MATERIAL AND METHOD OF OBTAINING HYDROGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER, filed on August 23, 1978, and is related to Patent No. 4,182,748, entitled MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER, issued on January 8, 1980.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a material for and method of effecting the decomposition/dissociation of water to form hydrogen. The water is reacted with an amalgam of sodium, aluminum and mercury to form hydrogen and a metallic hydroxide believed to be Na3AL(OH) g.
Description of the Prior Art It is well known that alkali metals react with water to form hydrogen and the stable alkali hydroxide. The foregoing reaction is rapid, the heat generated intense and the hydrogen formed generally ignites with explosive force. The result is an unsatisfactory and dangerous method of generating hydrogen. Moreover, the resulting alkali metal hydroxide is very stable and regeneration to form the alkali metal is not practical from an economic standpoint. A simple and facile method of producing hydrogen with¬ out spontaneous combustion of the resultant evolved hydrogen where an alkali metal is used has not heretofore been developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broadest aspect, the material found as suitable for generation of hydrogen from water without spontaneous combus¬ tion of the resultant evolved hydrogen comprises an amalgam of (1) an alkali metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium or combinations thereof, (2) aluminum and (3) mercury. The particle size of the sodium and aluminum is such as to facilitate formation of an amalgam. The amalgam has been prepared utilizing sodium of about 1/4 inch diameter and aluminu within the range of about 10 to about 100 mesh. The particle si of either the alkali metal or the aluminum is not critical for proper mixing or blending, but the presence of impurities advers effect such mixing.
The weight ratio of alkali- metal to mercury may be fro about 1:100 to about 100:1 and the weight ratio of alkali metal to aluminum may be from about 1:100 to 100:1. Preferably the weight ratio of alkali metal to mercury is from about 3:1 to about 1:4.5 and the weight ratio of alkali metal to aluminum is from about 1:4 to about 3:1.
Although not wishing to be bound by the following explanation, it is believed that the water reacts with the alkal metal, e.g., sodium, and the aluminum liberating hydrogen to form Na,AL(0H)fi. The reaction of the water with the amalgam is substantially different from the reaction of the alkali metal component of the amalgam with water. The heat generated by reaction of equivalent amounts of alkali metal in the form of th amalgam is. substantially less than where the alkali metal alone' is reacted with water. Accordingly, spontaneous combustion of the hydrogen in an oxidizing environment as well as the formatio of a highly stable sodium product is avoided where the amalgam o the invention is employed in place of the alkali metal alone. The process may be depicted as follows:
2 Na + 2 H20 fr 2 NaOH + H
6 H20 + Al + 6 NaOH ► 2 Na3Al(0H)g + 3 ≡2 The amalgam of sodium, aluminum and mercury is prepare utilizing any known procedure for amalgamation with the added important proviso that an inert atmosphere be maintained during amalgamation. Amalgamation may be facilitated by utilization of an elevated temperature preferably around 200° C. — 10° C. The amalgam is preferably maintained at this elevated temperature fo about 10 minutes where 100 grams are being processed and the tim is extended about a minute for each additional 100 gram aliquot.
Λ V/IP The resulting amalgam is cooled, generally to room temperature, utilizing an inert atmosphere. For this purpose, either helium or nitrogen are satisfactory. Cooling is preferably effected in a dessicator to insure that no water contacts the amalgam.
Upon cooling, the amalgam solidifies and may be contacted with water by submersion, by spraying the water thereupon, by impinging water in the form of steam thereon or in any other manner.
Contact of water at a temperature about 0° C. produces evolution of hydrogen.
Examples of suitable amalgams are as follows:
Wt. %
I. Aluminum 37.7 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 32.1 being 1.1:1 and the ratio of •" ■
Mercury 30.2 sodium to aluminum being 1:1.2.
II. Aluminum 22.9 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 18.4 being 1:3.2 and the ratio of
Mercury 58.7 sodium to aluminum being 1:1.2,
III. Aluminum 19.4 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 31.1 being 1:1.6 and the ratio of
Mercury 49.5 sodium to aluminum being 1.6:1,
Parts by Wt.
IV. Aluminum 168.4 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 43.9 b]eing 2.99:1 and the ratio of
Mercury 14.7 s iodium to aluminum being 1:3.8.
v. Aluminum 79.7 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 27.0 b]eing 1:4.45 and the ratio of
Mercury 120.2 s:odium to aluminum being 3:1.
VI. Aluminum 149.1 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 51.8 b]eing 2:1 and the ratio of
Mercury 26.1 s_odium to aluminum being 1:2.9, VII . Aluminum 75. 6 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 75 . 6 being 1:1 and the ratio of
Mercury 75 . 6 sodium to aluminum being 1:1.
VIII . Aluminum 85 . 3 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 56 . 4 being 1:1.5 and the ratio of
Mercury 85. 3 sodium to aluminum being 1:1.5.
IX. Aluminum 123. 3 The ratio of sodium to mercury
Sodium 62. 2 being 1.5:1 and the ratio of
Mercury 41. 5 sodium to aluminum being 1:2.0.
EXAMPLE Preparation of Amalgam
35.144 parts by weight of sodium, 13.749 parts by weig of aluminum and 51.107 parts by weight of mercury (the ratio of sodium to mercury being 1:1.45 and the ratio of sodium to alum¬ inum being 2.56:1) are formed into an amalgam under an inert atmosphere of nitrogen at an elevated temperature of 200° C. in graphite crucible.
The resulting amalgam is cooled to room temperature in a dessicator under an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Thereafter, the amalgam is formed which is a solid but which will liquefy upon agitation.
It is important to note that the amalgam should be prepared in an inert gas atmosphere to prevent premature hydrox¬ ide formation.
Use of Amalgam
The amalgam is placed in a suitable container with one surface thereof exposed. Water is sprayed upon the exposed surface or alternatively the exposed surface may be covered entirely with a layer of water. It is necessary that the amalga be placed within a container because in the course of contact of the amalgam with water the heat generated during the course of hydrogen generation transforms the amalgam to liquid form. The amalgam regardless of how it is contacted with water will not cause an explosion.
OM V.IP

Claims

I claim:
1. A material for the generation of hydrogen from water which comprises an amalgam of an alkali metal, mercury and aluminum wherein the weight ratio of alkali metal to mercury is from about 3:1 to about 1:4.5 and the weight ratio of alkali metal to aluminum is from about 1:4 to about 3:1.
2. The amalgam of claim 1 further characterized in that the alkali metal is sodium.
3. A method of preparing an amalgam of alkali metal, mercury and aluminum which comprises admixing said alkali metal, mercury and aluminum in an inert atmosphere at an elevated temperature followed by cooling said admixture while maintaining said inert atmosphere to form a solidified amalgam product.
4. The method of claim 8 wherein said elevated temperature is about 200° C - 10°C.
5. A process for generation of hydrogen from water which comprises contacting water with an amalgam of an alkali metal, mercury and aluminum.
6. The process of claim 5 wherein the amalgam comprises sodium, mercury and aluminum wherein the weight ratio of' sodium to mercury is from about 3:1 to about 1:4.5 and the weight ratio of sodium to aluminum is from about 1:4 to about 3:1.
PCT/US1981/000676 1980-05-23 1981-05-20 Material and method for obtaining hydrogen by dissociation of water WO1981003324A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU72980/81A AU7298081A (en) 1980-05-23 1981-05-20 Material and method for obtaining hydrogen by dissociation ofwater

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15274880A 1980-05-23 1980-05-23
US152748 1980-05-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1981003324A1 true WO1981003324A1 (en) 1981-11-26

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Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR337722A (en) * 1903-12-14 1904-04-22 Narcisse Alfred Helouis Incandescent lighting system by application of aluminum alloys and other equivalent alloys
GB190903188A (en) * 1909-02-09 1909-09-30 George William Johnson Improvements in Means for the Preparation of Pure Hydrogen.
GB191211838A (en) * 1912-05-18 1913-02-06 Sadamasa Uyeno Improvements relating to the Generation of Hydrogen.
US2083648A (en) * 1932-02-25 1937-06-15 Ig Farbenindustrie Ag Preparation of alkali metal hydroxide solutions
US2837408A (en) * 1954-06-29 1958-06-03 Olin Mathieson Process and apparatus for the catalytic decomposition of alkali metal amalgams
US3540854A (en) * 1967-05-26 1970-11-17 United Aircraft Corp Metal-water fueled reactor for generating steam and hydrogen
US3833357A (en) * 1970-11-24 1974-09-03 Oronzio De Nora Impianti A process for decomposing alkali metal amalgams into mercury, hydrogen and alkali metal hydroxide solutions
US3985866A (en) * 1974-10-07 1976-10-12 Hitachi Shipbuilding And Engineering Co., Ltd. Method of producing high-pressure hydrogen containing gas for use as a power source
WO1979001031A1 (en) * 1978-05-04 1979-11-29 Anderson Energy Systems Inc Material and method for dissociation of water
US4182748A (en) * 1978-05-04 1980-01-08 Horizon Manufacturing Corporation Material and method for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen by dissociation of water
US4207095A (en) * 1978-05-04 1980-06-10 Horizon Manufacturing Corporation Material and method for obtaining hydrogen by dissociation of water

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR337722A (en) * 1903-12-14 1904-04-22 Narcisse Alfred Helouis Incandescent lighting system by application of aluminum alloys and other equivalent alloys
GB190903188A (en) * 1909-02-09 1909-09-30 George William Johnson Improvements in Means for the Preparation of Pure Hydrogen.
GB191211838A (en) * 1912-05-18 1913-02-06 Sadamasa Uyeno Improvements relating to the Generation of Hydrogen.
US2083648A (en) * 1932-02-25 1937-06-15 Ig Farbenindustrie Ag Preparation of alkali metal hydroxide solutions
US2837408A (en) * 1954-06-29 1958-06-03 Olin Mathieson Process and apparatus for the catalytic decomposition of alkali metal amalgams
US3540854A (en) * 1967-05-26 1970-11-17 United Aircraft Corp Metal-water fueled reactor for generating steam and hydrogen
US3833357A (en) * 1970-11-24 1974-09-03 Oronzio De Nora Impianti A process for decomposing alkali metal amalgams into mercury, hydrogen and alkali metal hydroxide solutions
US3985866A (en) * 1974-10-07 1976-10-12 Hitachi Shipbuilding And Engineering Co., Ltd. Method of producing high-pressure hydrogen containing gas for use as a power source
WO1979001031A1 (en) * 1978-05-04 1979-11-29 Anderson Energy Systems Inc Material and method for dissociation of water
US4182748A (en) * 1978-05-04 1980-01-08 Horizon Manufacturing Corporation Material and method for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen by dissociation of water
US4207095A (en) * 1978-05-04 1980-06-10 Horizon Manufacturing Corporation Material and method for obtaining hydrogen by dissociation of water

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EP0052139A1 (en) 1982-05-26

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