MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING HYDROGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER

Abstract: A material and method of producing hydrogen by decomposition of water. The material is an amalgam of an alkali metal, mercury and aluminum and hydrogen is produced by contacting water therewith.

Description: MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING HYDROGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation-In-Part of appli¬ cation Serial No. 902,705, entitled MATERIAL AND METHOD OF OBTAIN¬ ING HYDROGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER, filed on May 4, 1978, and of application Serial No. 06/068,749, entitled MATERIAL AND METHOD OF OBTAINING HYDROGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER, filed on August 23, 1978, and is related to Patent No. 4,182,748, entitled MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN BY DISSOCIATION OF WATER, issued on January 8, 1980. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a material for and method of effecting the decomposition/dissociation of water to form hydrogen. The water is reacted with an amalgam of sodium, aluminum and mercury to form hydrogen and a metallic hydroxide believed to be Na 3 AL(OH) g . Description of the Prior Art It is well known that alkali metals react with water to form hydrogen and the stable alkali hydroxide. The foregoing reaction is rapid, the heat generated intense and the hydrogen formed generally ignites with explosive force. The result is an unsatisfactory and dangerous method of generating hydrogen. Moreover, the resulting alkali metal hydroxide is very stable and regeneration to form the alkali metal is not practical from an economic standpoint. A simple and facile method of producing hydrogen with¬ out spontaneous combustion of the resultant evolved hydrogen where an alkali metal is used has not heretofore been developed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broadest aspect, the material found as suitable for generation of hydrogen from water without spontaneous combus¬ tion of the resultant evolved hydrogen comprises an amalgam of (1) an alkali metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium or combinations thereof, (2) aluminum and (3) mercury. The particle size of the sodium and aluminum is such as to facilitate formation of an amalgam. The amalgam has been prepared utilizing sodium of about 1/4 inch diameter and aluminu within the range of about 10 to about 100 mesh. The particle si of either the alkali metal or the aluminum is not critical for proper mixing or blending, but the presence of impurities advers effect such mixing. The weight ratio of alkali- metal to mercury may be fro about 1:100 to about 100:1 and the weight ratio of alkali metal to aluminum may be from about 1:100 to 100:1. Preferably the weight ratio of alkali metal to mercury is from about 3:1 to about 1:4.5 and the weight ratio of alkali metal to aluminum is from about 1:4 to about 3:1. Although not wishing to be bound by the following explanation, it is believed that the water reacts with the alkal metal, e.g., sodium, and the aluminum liberating hydrogen to form Na,AL(0H) fi . The reaction of the water with the amalgam is substantially different from the reaction of the alkali metal component of the amalgam with water. The heat generated by reaction of equivalent amounts of alkali metal in the form of th amalgam is. substantially less than where the alkali metal alone ' is reacted with water. Accordingly, spontaneous combustion of the hydrogen in an oxidizing environment as well as the formatio of a highly stable sodium product is avoided where the amalgam o the invention is employed in place of the alkali metal alone. The process may be depicted as follows: 2 Na + 2 H 2 0 fr 2 NaOH + H 6 H 2 0 + Al + 6 NaOH ► 2 Na 3 Al(0H)g + 3 ≡ 2 The amalgam of sodium, aluminum and mercury is prepare utilizing any known procedure for amalgamation with the added important proviso that an inert atmosphere be maintained during amalgamation. Amalgamation may be facilitated by utilization of an elevated temperature preferably around 200° C. — 10° C. The amalgam is preferably maintained at this elevated temperature fo about 10 minutes where 100 grams are being processed and the tim is extended about a minute for each additional 100 gram aliquot. Λ V/IP The resulting amalgam is cooled, generally to room temperature, utilizing an inert atmosphere. For this purpose, either helium or nitrogen are satisfactory. Cooling is preferably effected in a dessicator to insure that no water contacts the amalgam. Upon cooling, the amalgam solidifies and may be contacted with water by submersion, by spraying the water thereupon, by impinging water in the form of steam thereon or in any other manner. Contact of water at a temperature about 0° C. produces evolution of hydrogen. Examples of suitable amalgams are as follows: Wt. % I. Aluminum 37.7 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 32.1 being 1.1:1 and the ratio of • " ■ Mercury 30.2 sodium to aluminum being 1:1.2. II. Aluminum 22.9 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 18.4 being 1:3.2 and the ratio of Mercury 58.7 sodium to aluminum being 1:1.2, III. Aluminum 19.4 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 31.1 being 1:1.6 and the ratio of Mercury 49.5 sodium to aluminum being 1.6:1, Parts by Wt. IV. Aluminum 168.4 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 43.9 b]eing 2.99:1 and the ratio of Mercury 14.7 s iodium to aluminum being 1:3.8. v. Aluminum 79.7 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 27.0 b]eing 1:4.45 and the ratio of Mercury 120.2 s:odium to aluminum being 3:1. VI. Aluminum 149.1 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 51.8 b]eing 2:1 and the ratio of Mercury 26.1 s_odium to aluminum being 1:2.9, VII . Aluminum 75. 6 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 75 . 6 being 1:1 and the ratio of Mercury 75 . 6 sodium to aluminum being 1:1. VIII . Aluminum 85 . 3 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 56 . 4 being 1:1.5 and the ratio of Mercury 85. 3 sodium to aluminum being 1:1.5. IX. Aluminum 123. 3 The ratio of sodium to mercury Sodium 62. 2 being 1.5:1 and the ratio of Mercury 41. 5 sodium to aluminum being 1:2.0. EXAMPLE Preparation of Amalgam 35.144 parts by weight of sodium, 13.749 parts by weig of aluminum and 51.107 parts by weight of mercury (the ratio of sodium to mercury being 1:1.45 and the ratio of sodium to alum¬ inum being 2.56:1) are formed into an amalgam under an inert atmosphere of nitrogen at an elevated temperature of 200° C. in graphite crucible. The resulting amalgam is cooled to room temperature in a dessicator under an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Thereafter, the amalgam is formed which is a solid but which will liquefy upon agitation. It is important to note that the amalgam should be prepared in an inert gas atmosphere to prevent premature hydrox¬ ide formation. Use of Amalgam The amalgam is placed in a suitable container with one surface thereof exposed. Water is sprayed upon the exposed surface or alternatively the exposed surface may be covered entirely with a layer of water. It is necessary that the amalga be placed within a container because in the course of contact of the amalgam with water the heat generated during the course of hydrogen generation transforms the amalgam to liquid form. The amalgam regardless of how it is contacted with water will not cause an explosion. OM V.IP

Claims: I claim: 1. A material for the generation of hydrogen from water which comprises an amalgam of an alkali metal, mercury and aluminum wherein the weight ratio of alkali metal to mercury is from about 3:1 to about 1:4.5 and the weight ratio of alkali metal to aluminum is from about 1:4 to about 3:1. 2. The amalgam of claim 1 further characterized in that the alkali metal is sodium. 3. A method of preparing an amalgam of alkali metal, mercury and aluminum which comprises admixing said alkali metal, mercury and aluminum in an inert atmosphere at an elevated temperature followed by cooling said admixture while maintaining said inert atmosphere to form a solidified amalgam product. 4. The method of claim 8 wherein said elevated temperature is about 200° C - 10°C. 5. A process for generation of hydrogen from water which comprises contacting water with an amalgam of an alkali metal, mercury and aluminum. 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the amalgam comprises sodium, mercury and aluminum wherein the weight ratio of' sodium to mercury is from about 3:1 to about 1:4.5 and the weight ratio of sodium to aluminum is from about 1:4 to about 3:1.

Inventors: ANDERSON E
Applicants: ANDERSON E
Application year: 1981
Main classification: C01B13
IPC codes: C01B3, C22C7, C22C30