Article | REF: RE188 V1

Hydrogen generation via hydrolysis with magnesium

Authors: Manuel LEGRÉE, Jean-Louis BOBET, Jocelyn SABATIER, Fabrice MAUVY

Publication date: March 10, 2023

You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!

Already subscribed? Log in!


Overview

Français

ABSTRACT

Hydrolysis reaction with metals is an efficient way for producing hydrogen on demand without using external energy source and without greenhouse gases emission. Thanks to its abundance and high reactivity with water, magnesium is a very interesting material for this application. The article presents the main characteristics of this green hydrogen production method. The preparation of reactants as well as reaction mechanisms are presented. Analysis methods used for the research of efficient materials are also discussed. Finally, application examples illustrate some of the opportunities offered by this technology.

Read this article from a comprehensive knowledge base, updated and supplemented with articles reviewed by scientific committees.

Read the article

AUTHORS

  • Manuel LEGRÉE: Doctoral student, University of Bordeaux - Bordeaux Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry, UMR5026, Bordeaux, France

  • Jean-Louis BOBET: Professor, University of Bordeaux - Bordeaux Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry, UMR5026, Bordeaux, France

  • Jocelyn SABATIER: Professor, University of Bordeaux - Laboratoire de l'Intégration du Matériau au Système, UMR5218, Bordeaux, France

  • Fabrice MAUVY: Professor, University of Bordeaux - Bordeaux Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry, UMR5026, Bordeaux, France

 INTRODUCTION

Geopolitical issues, scarcity of resources, environmental impacts and climate change are all sources of growing tension when it comes to energy supply and management. In this context, the diversification of energy production, storage and distribution processes is essential. The research, development and implementation of processes that perform these functions are therefore booming, particularly in the "hydrogen sector". The dihydrogen molecule (H 2 ) is a highly attractive energy carrier, since its production and consumption cycle can be carried out without greenhouse gas emissions. Among dihydrogen synthesis methods, those based on the decomposition of water molecules H 2 O into H 2 and O 2 have long been known. The energy enabling this dissociation is provided by an electric current in the case of electrolysis. In the case of hydrolysis, there is no energy input other than the chemical energy contained in the material used for the reaction. This second method is the subject of this article. The hydrolysis reaction is carried out with materials that can be easily oxidized (reducing agents, such as most metals) or release the hydrogen contained in their structure (hydrides) on contact with water.

Among these different materials, magnesium has several major interests: i) it is abundant in the earth's crust, ii) it is inexpensive, iii) it is highly reactive with water, iv) it can form the hydride MgH 2 , doubling the amount of H 2 produced and therefore the energy density, and v) it is safe for health and the environment. Controlling the hydrolysis reaction in the presence of magnesium also enables hydrogen to be produced on demand, under controlled pressure and without energy input.

After setting the scene for the hydrolysis process using magnesium-based materials, a description of the types of reagents used and the work involved in optimizing the reaction are presented. In a second section, the methods used to characterize the reagents used for hydrolysis are discussed. Finally, an overview of process applications is presented, before concluding.

Key points

Field: Hydrogen production technology

Degree of technology dissemination: Maturity

Technologies involved : Fuel cells

Applications: Off-site power generation, light mobility

Main French players :

Competence center: ICMCB

Manufacturers:...

You do not have access to this resource.

Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!

You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!

Already subscribed? Log in!


The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference

A Comprehensive Knowledge Base, with over 1,200 authors and 100 scientific advisors
+ More than 10,000 articles and 1,000 how-to sheets, over 800 new or updated articles every year
From design to prototyping, right through to industrialization, the reference for securing the development of your industrial projects

This article is included in

Green chemistry

This offer includes:

Knowledge Base

Updated and enriched with articles validated by our scientific committees

Services

A set of exclusive tools to complement the resources

Practical Path

Operational and didactic, to guarantee the acquisition of transversal skills

Doc & Quiz

Interactive articles with quizzes, for constructive reading

Subscribe now!

Ongoing reading
Hydrogen generation by hydrolysis in the presence of magnesium