Method for catalytically induced hydrolysis and recycling of metal borohydride solutions
The process for obtaining M 1 BH 4 , the process comprising contacting M 1 -B0 2 with a metal M 2 in the presence of molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) under conditions permitting the formation of M 1 -BH 4 and M 2 -oxide, wherein the M 1 is a metal selected from column I of the periodic table of elements or alloys of metals selected from column I of the periodic table of elements and M 2 is a metal or an alloy of metals selected from column II of the periodic table of elements, provided that M 2 is not Mg and M 1 is different from M 2 .
1. A process for obtaining M 1 -BH 4 , the process comprising:
introducing M 1 -BO 2 and an M 2 alloy into a reaction vessel to form a reaction mixture;
heating the reaction mixture under inert atmosphere to a temperature of between 200° C.-600° C.; and
introducing H 2 into the reaction vessel to thereby obtain a reaction product comprising M 1 -BH 4 ,
wherein the M 1 is a metal selected from column I of the periodic table of elements and M 2 is an alloy of metals selected from column II of the periodic table of elements.
2. The process according to claim 1 further comprising introducing a catalyst into the reaction vessel, wherein said catalyst is removed from the reaction vessel at a predetermined time or after a predetermined amount of M 1 -BH 4 is formed.
3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the catalyst is introduced at a ratio of between 1:0.01 and 1:1 compared to the M 1 -BO 2 .
4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein M 2 is selected from Mg-alloys of Be, Ca, Sr, and Ba.
5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the H 2 is provided at a pressure of at least 10 bars.
6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the M 1 -BO 2 and M 2 are provided in a molar ratio of between 1:1 and 1:10.
7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein M 1 is selected from Li, Na and K.
8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the metals in the M 2 alloy has a Pauling electronegativity value of ≤1.6.
9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein M 2 has a particle size of between about 0.1 and about 10 μm.
10. The process according to claim 2 , wherein said catalyst is selected from Fe, Co, Cu, Ni, Ru, Pt and alloys thereof.