Process for producing hydrogen

Abstract

An Mg alloy powder is reacted with water to produce hydogen. The Mg alloy powder is produced by hydrogenating an aggregate of Mg alloy particles each having an Mg particle and a plurality of catalyst metal particulates existing on a surface of and within the Mg particle. The catalyst metal particulates are at least one selected from Ni particulates, Ni alloy particulates, Fe particulates, Fe alloy particulates, V particulates, V alloy particulates, Mn particulates, Mn alloy particulates, Ti particulates, Ti alloy particulates, Cu particulates, Cu alloy particulates, Ag particulates, Ag alloy particulates, Ca particulates, Ca alloy particulates, Zn particulates, Zn alloy particulates, Zr particulates, Zr alloy particulates, Co particulates, Co alloy particulates, Cr particulates and Cr alloy particulates. Thus, hydrogen can be produced quickly and in large amounts, and waste liquid is easily treated. Moreover, hydrogen production cost can be reduced using an inexpensive catalyst.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for producing hydrogen, comprising reacting an Mg alloy powder with water, wherein said Mg alloy powder is a powder produced by hydrogenating an aggregate of Mg alloy particles each comprising an Mg particle and a plurality of catalyst metal particulates existing on a surface of said Mg particle and within said Mg particle, said catalyst metal particulates being at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni particulates, Ni alloy particulates, Fe particulates, Fe alloy particulates, V particulates, V alloy particulates, Mn particulates, Mn alloy particulates, Ti particulates, Ti alloy particulates, Cu particulates, Cu alloy particulates, Ag particulates, Ag alloy particulates, Ca particulates, Ca alloy particulates, Zn particulates, Zn alloy particulates, Zr particulates, Zr alloy particulates, Co particulates, Co alloy particulates, Cr particulates and Cr alloy particulates.  
     
     
         2 . A process for producing hydrogen, comprising reacting an Mg alloy powder with water, wherein said Mg alloy powder is an aggregate of Mg alloy particles each comprising an Mg particle and a plurality of catalyst metal particulates existing on a surface of said Mg particle and within said Mg particle, said catalyst metal particulates being at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni particulates, Ni alloy particulates, Fe particulates, Fe alloy particulates, V particulates, V alloy particulates, Mn particulates, Mn alloy particulates, Ti particulates, Ti alloy particulates, Cu particulates, Cu alloy particulates, Ag particulates, Ag alloy particulates, Ca particulates, Ca alloy particulates, Zn particulates, Zn alloy particulates, Zr particulates, Zr alloy particulates, Co particulates, Co alloy particulates, Cr particulates and Cr alloy particulates.  
     
     
         3 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 1 , wherein the content G of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 0.1% by atom≦G≦5.0% by atom.  
     
     
         4 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 2 , wherein the content G of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 0.1% by atom≦G≦5.0% by atom.  
     
     
         5 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 1 , wherein the content G of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 0.3% by atom≦G≦1.0% by atom.  
     
     
         6 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 2 , wherein the content G of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 0.3% by atom≦G≦1.0% by atom.  
     
     
         7 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 3 , wherein the content G of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 0.3% by atom≦G≦1.0% by atom.  
     
     
         8 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 4 , wherein the content G of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 0.3% by atom≦G≦1.0% by atom.  
     
     
         9 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 1  wherein the particle size D of said Mg particles is in a range of 1 μm≦D≦500 μm, and the particle size d of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 10 nm≦d≦500 nm.  
     
     
         10 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 2  wherein the particle size D of said Mg particles is in a range of 1 μm≦D≦500 μm, and the particle size d of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 10 nm≦d≦500 nm.  
     
     
         11 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 3  wherein the particle size D of said Mg particles is in a range of 1 μm≦D≦500 μm, and the particle size d of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 10 nm≦d≦500 nm.  
     
     
         12 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 4  wherein the particle size D of said Mg particles is in a range of 1 μm≦D≦500 μm, and the particle size d of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 10 nm≦d≦500 nm.  
     
     
         13 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 5  wherein the particle size D of said Mg particles is in a range of 1 μm≦D≦500 μm, and the particle size d of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 10 nm≦d≦500 nm.  
     
     
         14 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 6  wherein the particle size D of said Mg particles is in a range of 1 μm≦D≦500 μm, and the particle size d of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 10 nm≦d≦500 nm.  
     
     
         15 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 7  wherein the particle size D of said Mg particles is in a range of 1 μm≦D≦500 μm, and the particle size d of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 10 nm≦d≦500 nm.  
     
     
         16 . The process for producing hydrogen of  claim 8  wherein the particle size D of said Mg particles is in a range of 1 μm≦D≦500 μm, and the particle size d of said catalyst metal particulates is in a range of 10 nm≦d≦500 nm.