Production of hydrogen from industrial metal waste

Abstract

THE production of hydrogen was obtained by catalytic reaction of aluminium with water. The reaction produces a large amount of heat and hydrogen gas. The presence of the catalyst is necessary because the reaction of the metal with water does not occur due to presence of a very thin passivation layer, Al2O3. In our case NaOH, iodine and sodium chloride were selected to activate the aluminium surface, i.e. to remove the passive layer and allow the reaction to proceed. The aluminium used in the reaction comprises aluminium foil, electrical wire, beverage cans and other similar aluminium waste.