Chlorella vulgaris microalgae strain modified with zinc chloride as a new support material for hydrogen production from NaBH4 methanolysis using CuB, NiB, and FeB metal catalysts

Abstract

This study aims to produce hydrogen (HG) from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) methanolysis using CuB, NiB or FeB catalysts prepared with a different support material including C. vulgaris microalgae strain modified using zinc chloride (CMS-ZnCl2). The NaBH4 concentration, metal percentage in the supported-catalyst, the optimal ZnCl2 percentage, and temperature effect on the NaBH4 methanolysis were investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were performed for the CMS-ZnCl2-CuB characterization. Also, the low activation energy (Ea) of 22.71 kJ mol(-1) was found with the supported catalyst obtained. Under the same conditions, nearly 100% conversion was achieved in the reusability experiments repeated five times, but a gradual decrease in catalytic activity was observed after each use. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.