Research on hydrogen generation from rapid hydrolysis of aluminum in sodium fluoride solution

Abstract

Hydrogen generation from rapid hydrolysis of aluminum in sodium fluoride solution was investigated through a hydrolysis experiment. Rapid and instant hydrogen yield were observed using sodium fluoride as additive. The experimental results demonstrate that the increase of temperature and the amount of additives in a certain range will boost the hydrogen production. The amount of additives outside the range only has an effect on the rapid hydrolysis of the aluminum during the initial stage, but the total amount of hydrogen produced doesn't increased significantly. Theoretical analysis of the effects of the mixing ratio and the temperature on the hydrogen production rates were performed using the shrinking core model and the kinetic model. The shrinking core model parameter a and k indicate the film change degree of porosity and thickness and the effect of time on the diffusion coefficient. the kinetic model is verified and the activation energy confirming hydrogen yield control by a molecular diffusion process. Correspondingly, mechanisms of Al corrosion in NaF solutions under low and high alkalinity were proposed, respectively.