The use of metallurgical waste sludge as a catalyst in hydrogen production from sodium borohydride

Abstract

In this study, the metallurgic sludge which contained oil and was obtained as waste of grinding, sharpening and milling parts was used in the production of hydrogen (H2) from sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The hydrolysis of NaBH4 with the metallurgic sludge catalyst was investigated depending on several parameters such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration, catalyst amount, NaBH4 concentration and temperature. The obtained metallurgic sludge catalyst was characterized by the XRD, FT-IR and SEM techniques and was evaluated for its activity in the H2 generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis. The maximum H2 production rate from the hydrolysis of NaBH4 with the metallurgic sludge catalyst was calculated as 9366 ml min−1.gcat−1. The value of activation energy was found as 48.05 kJ mol−1.