The Effect of NaOH and LaCoO3 Perovskite on HHO Gas Production Rate

Abstract

Utilization of renewable energy such as solar energy, wind energy, require a technology to store energy since production and consumption energy isn’t always at the same time. Hydrogen appears as an alternative solution to store energy since it has high energy density and can be easily obtained from water by electrolysis reaction. Electrolysis produces hydrogen and oxygen gas and when it combines forming HHO gas. There are many factors that can influence HHO gas production, such as electrolyte concentration and utilization of catalyst. In this research, we observed the effect of NaOH electrolyte concentration and catalyst LaCoO3 concentration toward production of HHO gas. Catalyst LaCoO3 is synthesized by sol-gel method with calcination over 900°C, however particle of LaCoO3 that formed still submicron-sized. To obtain catalyst LaCoO3 that disperse in electrolyte suspension, it is treated by beads milling process to minimize the size of particle. Experiment result showed that increasing NaOH electrolyte concentration will affect to increment of HHO gas production. The most optimal HHO gas production from all variation of catalyst LaCoO3 is when using 3 M of NaOH electrolyte concentration. However, addition of catalyst LaCoO3 in suspension electrolyte will drop HHO gas production.