Hydrogen Production using Aluminum-Water Reaction and Electrolysis with Ultrasonic Wave Agitation

The utilization of hydrogen as a clean fuel technology holds great promise in reducing carbon emissions and advancing towards a sustainable energy future. In this study, ultrasonic waves were used in aluminum-water reaction to increase hydrogen production. The aluminum-water reaction was carried out at five NaOH concentrations, namely 0.3M, 0.5M, 0.75M, 1M, and 2M. The aluminum used is aluminum scrap. The hydrogen production rate is significantly increased due to the ultrasonic agitation of 48 kHz in the water-aluminum reaction. Ultrasound produces reaction residue particles that are more porous, according to SEM images. A more pronounced boehmite (AlOOH) phase rather than bayerite (Al(OH)3) phase is observed from the reaction product according to XRD and FTIR characterizations. This shows that ultrasonic agitation speeds up the reaction so that the water temperature rises more than it would have otherwise. However, in electrolysis, this impact is less pronounced because ultrasound can only lower the overpotential value and little improvement is shown in the rate at which hydrogen is produced.