IP Library Granted Patent US 7,550,072
Granted Patent B2
US 7,550,072 · App. 10/910,325 · Granted Jun 23, 2009

Method of producing electrolytic hydrogen using rare element-deposit electrode

Assignee: Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,550,072
App. No.
10/910,325
Granted
Jun 23, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nitric acid solution containing ions of any one element selected from the group consisting of rare element FP of Ru, Rh and Pd and a rare element of Re is electrolytically reduced by electrolyzing at a constant current to thereby deposit the ions of the element on an electrode. Alternatively, a nitric acid solution containing ions of two or more elements selected from the group consisting of rare element FP of Ru, Rh and Pd and a rare element of Re is electrolytically reduced by electrolyzing at a constant current to thereby collectively deposit the ions of the elements on an electrode. Alkaline water is electrolyzed by using the thus obtained electrodeposit electrode directly as it is as a catalytic electrode to efficiently generate hydrogen. Thus, a clean and sustaining energy system integrating the nuclear energy with the fuel cell power generation is provided.

Claims (8)

1. A method of electrolytic hydrogen production using a rare element-deposit electrode, said method comprising

electrolytically reducing a nitric acid solution containing ions of any one element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd and Re by electrolyzing at a constant current to thereby deposit the ions of the element on an electrode, and

electrolyzing alkaline water by using the obtained electrodeposit electrode directly as it is as a catalytic electrode to thereby generate hydrogen.

2. A method of electrolytic hydrogen production using a rare element-deposit electrode, said method comprising

electrolytically reducing a nitric acid solution containing ions of two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd and Re by electrolyzing at a constant current to thereby collectively deposit the ions of the elements on an electrode, and

electrolyzing alkaline water by using the obtained electrodeposit electrode directly as it is as a catalytic electrode to thereby generate hydrogen.

3. The method of electrolytic hydrogen production using a rare element-deposit electrode according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said nitric acid solution containing said ions is a nitric acid solution containing ions of a rare element FP of Ru, Rh or Pd generated from a reprocessing step of spent nuclear fuels used in nuclear power generation facilities including light water reactors or fast reactors.

4. The method of electrolytic hydrogen production using a rare element-deposit electrode according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said electrolytically reducing step of the nitric acid solution and said electrolyzing step of alkaline water are carried out using the same electrolysis apparatus.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 10, 2012
From: JAPAN NUCLEAR CYCLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
To: JAPAN ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028023/0814 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2004
From: OZAWA, MASAKI; IKEGAMI, TETSUO
To: JAPAN NUCLEAR CYCLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 015657/0222 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2003-400038 · Nov 28, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050115841A1 · Jun 2, 2005