US EPA

1453074 

Journal Article 

Hydrogen generation from methanolysis of sodium borohydride over Co/Al2O3 catalyst 

Xu, D; Zhao, Lin; Dai, P; Ji, S 

2012 

Yes 

Journal of Natural Gas Chemistry
ISSN: 1003-9953 

21 

5 

488-494 

10.1016/S1003-9953(11)60395-2 

WOS:000310415000002 

Co/Al2O3 catalyst is prepared with an impregnation-chemical
reduction method and used to catalyze the methanolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) for hydrogen
generation. At solution temperature of 0 degrees C, the methanolysis reaction can be effectively
accelerated using Co/Al2O3 catalyst and provide a desirable hydrogen generation rate, which makes
it suitable for applications under the circumstance of low environmental temperature. The
byproduct of methanolysis reaction is analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characterization results indicate that methanol can be easily
recovered after methanolysis reaction by hydrolysis of the methanolysis byproduct, NaB(OCH3)(4).
The catalytic activity of Co/Al2O3 towards NaBH4 methanolysis can be further improved by
appropriate calcination treatment. The catalytic methanolysis kinetics and catalyst reusability
are also studied over the Co/Al2O3 catalyst calcined at the optimized temperature. 

hydrogen generation; sodium borohydride; methanolysis; cobalt