Electrolytic production of hydrogen

• US 6,890,419 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tactical Fuel Cells, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Mays, William, Reichman, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilkins, III, Harry D.
• Application Number:
  US10/321,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 205/637
• US Class Current: 205/637
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/18 by thermal decomposition of compounds, e.g. of salts or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0211 containing a non-catalytic reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0227 containing a catalytic reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1041 Composition of the catalyst
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1052 Nickel or cobalt catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1064 Platinum group metal catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/107 Platinum catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1082 Composition of support materials
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1217 Alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1223 Methanol
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1229 Ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1235 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/32 by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/323 Catalytic reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds other than hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/34 by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/38 using catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01F 11/06 of carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 : using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts

Abstract

Methods for producing hydrogen gas from organic substances. According to the methods, hydrogen is produced from an electrochemical reaction of an organic substance with water or a base. The instant methods permit the production of hydrogen at lower operating voltages or lower operating temperatures relative to water electrolysis. Operable organic substances include alcohols, ethers, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and ketones. In a preferred embodiment, hydrogen gas is produced from an electrochemical reaction of methanol in the presence of a base such as NaOH or KOH.

Claims

1. A method for producing hydrogen gas comprising the steps of:

providing an electrolyte solution, said electrolyte solution including an organic substance and a metal hydroxide base, said organic substance comprising carbon;

placing said electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode; and

providing a voltage between said anode and said cathode, said voltage inducing an electrochemical reaction in said electrochemical cell,

wherein said electrochemical reaction produces hydrogen gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said organic substance further comprises oxygen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said organic substance is an alcohol.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said alcohol is methanol.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said alcohol is ethanol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said organic substance is an aldehyde or a carboxylic acid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said organic substance is a hydrocarbon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said organic substance is an ether or a ketone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrolyte solution further includes water.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrolyte solution further includes a conductivity-enhancing agent.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said metal hydroxide base is an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said metal hydroxide base in said electrolyte solution is at least 1 M.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said metal hydroxide base in said electrolyte solution is at least 3 M.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said metal hydroxide base in said electrolyte solution is at least 6 M.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said metal hydroxide base in said electrolyte solution is at least 9 M.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said metal hydroxide base in said electrolyte solution is at least 12 M.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrolyte solution consists essentially of said organic substance and said metal hydroxide base.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said anode or said cathode includes a hydrogen storage alloy.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnitude of said voltage is less than 1.0 V.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnitude of said voltage is less than 0.5 V.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnitude of said voltage is less than 0.25 V.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical cell is heated to a temperature above room temperature.

23. A method for producing hydrogen gas comprising the steps of:

providing an electrolyte solution, said electrolyte solution including an organic substance, said organic substance comprising carbon;

placing said electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode; and

providing a voltage between said anode and said cathode, said voltage inducing an electrochemical reaction in said electrochemical cell,

wherein said electrochemical reaction produces hydrogen gas and carbonate ion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said electrolyte solution further includes a base.

25. A method for producing hydrogen gas comprising the steps of:

providing an electrolyte solution, said electrolyte solution including an organic substance, said organic substance comprising carbon;

placing said electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode; and

providing a voltage between said anode and said cathode, said voltage inducing an electrochemical reaction in said electrochemical cell,

wherein said electrochemical reaction produces hydrogen gas and bicarbonate ion.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said electrolyte solution further includes a base.

27. A method for producing hydrogen gas comprising the steps of:

providing an electrolyte solution, said electrolyte solution including an organic substance, said organic substance comprising carbon;

placing said electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode; and

providing a voltage between said anode and said cathode, said voltage inducing an electrochemical reaction in said electrochemical cell,

wherein said electrochemical reaction produces hydrogen gas without producing carbon dioxide.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said electrolyte solution further includes a base.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said electrolyte solution further includes an acid.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said electrolyte solution further includes a conductivity-enhancing agent.