Preparation of sodium borohydride by copper electrolysis

Abstract

The feasibility of preparing sodium borohydride by electrolyzing sodium metaborate has been demonstrated from the thermodynamic perspective and the cyclic voltammetry curves of different electrode materials were investigated. Furthermore, under the condition of copper as a working electrode, the changing relations between the cell current and working electrode potential were compared with different conditions, such as membrane, the concentrations of alkali and sodium metaborate. The copper electrode whose electrode potential is 1.17 V was chosen as a working electrode. In a home-made electrolytic cell which contains of cation-exchange membrane, sodium borohydride was prepared by electrolyzing sodium metaborate and the product was titrated using national standard method.