Aqueous borohydride compositions

Abstract

An aqueous fuel for generating hydrogen includes alkaline aqueous composition of about 17 to 37 mole percent of a sodium borohydride, and from about 0.001 to 1 mole percent of sodium hydroxide.

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         12 . A process for energizing fuel cells, batteries, internal and external combustion engines for transportation and power generation, the process comprises providing an alkaline aqueous solution as a source of hydrogen or protons to a suitable device for decomposing the sodium borohydride, and using the liberated hydrogen as a source of energy, the alkaline aqueous composition comprising from about 17 to 37 mole percent sodium borohydride, and from about 0.001 to 1 mole percent of a strong base.  
     
     
         13 . A process according to  claim 12  wherein decomposition of the sodium borohydride is accomplished chemically with a suitable catalyst to produce hydrogen.  
     
     
         14 . A process according to  claim 13  further comprising igniting the hydrogen in an internal or external combustion engine.  
     
     
         15 . A process according to  claim 13  wherein the catalyst is ruthenium or other suitable catalyst.  
     
     
         16 . A process according to  claim 12 , the alkaline aqueous composition comprising from about 24 to 30 mole percent of sodium borohydride, and from about 0.025 to 0.3 mole percent of a strong base.  
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 16 , the strong base being selected from alkaline metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides.  
     
     
         18 . A process according to  claim 17 , the alkaline metal hydroxide being sodium hydroxide.  
     
     
         19 . A process according to  claim 12 , the alkaline aqueous composition comprising 44.0 percent by weight sodium borohydride, 0.2 percent by weight caustic soda and 55.8 by weight water by weight.  
     
     
         20 . A process according to  claim 18 , the alkaline aqueous composition comprising about 27.27 mole percent sodium borohydride, about 0.12 mole percent sodium hydroxide, and about 72.61 mole percent water.  
     
     
         21 . A process according to  claim 12 , the mole ratio of base to sodium borohydride being about 0.0043.  
     
     
         22 . A process according to  claim 12 , the alkaline aqueous composition having a temperature from about 10 degree C. to about 30 degrees C.  
     
     
         23 . A process according to  claim 12 , the alkaline aqueous composition further comprising an effective amount of a viscosity-reducing additive.  
     
     
         24 . A process according to  claim 23  wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, 2-ethylhexanol, and sodium chloride.  
     
     
         25 . A process according to  claim 24  wherein the additive comprises about 1.4% w/w isopropyl alcohol.  
     
     
         26 . A process for preparing an alkaline aqueous borohydride composition, the process comprising: 
 mixing a feedstock of a dilute alkaline aqueous solution of sodium borohydride with a polar, non-aqueous solvent that is a good solvent for the sodium borohydride but a poor solvent, or non-solvent, for the base;    extracting sodium borohydride from the alkaline aqueous solution into the non-aqueous phase;    separating the non-aqueous solution of sodium borohydride from the aqueous phase;    concentrating the initial non-aqueous solution of sodium borohydride to provide a predefined concentration of sodium borohydride by evaporating the non-aqueous solvent; and    adding a predefined amount of an alkaline stabilizing agent to the concentrated non-aqueous solution of sodium borohydride to provide a product.    
     
     
         27 . A process according to  claim 26  wherein the alkaline stabilizing agent comprises additional feedstock.  
     
     
         28 . A process according to  claim 27 , wherein the product includes residual non-aqueous solvent and further comprising separating residual non-aqueous solvent from the product to provide a concentrated product.  
     
     
         29 . A process for preparing an aqueous solution of an sodium hydrosulfite, the process comprising: 
 providing a first component comprising an aqueous composition comprising an alkali metal borohydride and sodium hydroxide;    providing a second component selected from the group comprising (i) sodium bisulfite, and (ii) sulfur dioxide and caustic;    optionally providing a third component comprising sulfuric acid;    mixing the components;    wherein the aqueous composition comprises from about 17 to 37 mole percent of an alkali metal borohydride, and from about 0.001 to 1 mole percent of sodium hydroxide.    
     
     
         30 . A process according to  claim 29 , wherein the aqueous composition comprises from about 24 to 30 mole percent of sodium borohydride, and from about 0.025 to 0.3 mole percent of sodium hydroxide.