The use of Mg-metal chloride composites in hydrogen production

In this study, the effects of Mg-metal chloride composites on the water hydrolysis and hydrogen production were investigated. The composites were prepared with the addition of different chlorides (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, AlCl3 and CoCl2) into Mg and with ground by planetary ball mill at different times (2, 4 and 8 hours). The structural properties and microscopic images of the powder mixtures were analyzed by SEM and XRD. It has been observed that different mixing ratios (10 wt% and 20 wt% of metal chlorides) and the grinding times (2, 4 and 8 hours) caused structural changes. Hydrogen generation was investigated over the 30-75°C temperature range. In the first hydrogen generation experiments, distilled water and NaOH solution was used, but a minimal amount of hydrogen gas output was observed. In subsequent experiments, it has been observed that the use of acetic acid and citric acid solutions significantly enhance the amount of hydrogen formed. The 4 hours milled Mg – 10 wt% CoCl2 composite has the best hydrolysis properties for all experiments with its 138 ml of hydrogen generation at 30oC in 30 ml, 2 M citric acid solution.