Electrochemical process and production of novel complex hydrides
View Patent ↗A process of using an electrochemical cell to generate aluminum hydride (AlH 3 ) is provided. The electrolytic cell uses a polar solvent to solubilize NaAlH 4 . The resulting electrochemical process results in the formation of AlH 3 . The AlH 3 can be recovered and used as a source of hydrogen for the automotive industry. The resulting spent aluminum can be regenerated into NaAlH 4 as part of a closed loop process of AlH 3 generation.
1. An electrochemical process of producing AIH 3 consisting essentially of:
supplying an anode;
supplying a cathode;
placing said anode and said cathode in an electrolytic solution free of chlorides and comprising THF and NaAlH 4 or KAlH 4 ; and,
passing a current through the electrochemical cell thereby forming AlH 3 .
2. The process according to claim 1 wherein said anode is a palladium anode.
3. The process according to claim 1 wherein said cathode is an aluminum cathode.
4. The process according to claim 1 comprising the additional step of removing AlH 3 from a surface of said anode.
5. The electrochemical process of producing AlH 3 consisting essentially of:
supplying an anode selected from the materials of palladium, platinum, titanium, zirconium, or hydride forming metals;
supplying a cathode selected from the materials of aluminum, magnesium, and calcium;
placing said anode and said cathode in an electrolytic solution free of chlorides containing NaAlH 4 , said NaAlH 4 formed from direct hydrogenation of aluminum, said aluminum being recovered from dehydrided AlH 3 ; and,
passing a current through the electrochemical cell thereby forming AlH 3 .
6. An electrochemical process of producing an alane comprising:
supplying an anode selected from the materials of palladium, platinum, titanium, zirconium, hydride forming metals, and combinations thereof;
supplying a cathode selected from the materials of aluminum, magnesium, calcium, and combinations thereof;
placing said anode and said cathode in an electrolytic solution containing an electrolyte selected from the group consisting essentially of THF. NaAlH 4 , KAlH 4 and combinations thereof; and,
passing a current through the electrochemical cell thereby forming a metal hydride.
7. The process according to claim 6 wherein said electrolyte is formed from a dehydrided metal hydride, said metal hydride being formed from the process according to claim 6 .
8. An electrochemical process of producing AlH 3 comprising:
supplying an anode;
supplying a cathode;
placing said anode and said cathode in an electrolytic solution free of chlorides consisting essentially of THF and NaAlH 4 or KAlH 4 ; and,
passing a current through the electrochemical cell thereby forming AlH 3 .