[NewCandle] Nick's bitches brew

[Keith Nagel]

Hi Nick,

The effective current densities on the Al surface undergoing such
rapid corrosion must be huge. I vaguely recall your saying that
you tried powders to no effect? Have you tried a few pounds worth? (grin)

Here's Fred's analysis of the reaction.

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Pure Aluminum will react with High Purity Water to form the aluminate ion and aluminum hydroxide (  Al(OH)3 )
releasing H2 in the process. The Aluminate and Sodium-Potassium Ion "catalyze" The Hydrolysis Reaction.

Once it starts all you have to do is keep it hot and add water and aluminum.

A Very Expensive way to Produce Hydrogen from Water: 2 Al (54 lbs) + 6 H2O ( 108 lbs)   -----> 2 Al(OH)3 (156 lbs) + 3 H2 (6 lbs).

IOW at the current price ($1.10/lb)  about $60.00/54 Lb, the 6 lbs of H2 will cost $10.00 per pound.

The best water electrolysis units use 25 Kilowatt Hours Per Lb ~ $2.00 per pound to make H2.

Zinc (Zincate), Manganese(Manganate) Molybdenum(Molybdate) and Nickel (Nickelate) acts similarly.

Higher water temperatures increase the Ion Product Constant (H3O+ and OH-) and
speed up the metal Hydrolysis Reaction.


http://www.uncp.edu/home/mcclurem/ptable/al.htm

"Aluminum forms only a +3 ion. In solution, the aluminum ion hydrates to form the ion Al(H2O)63+. Solutions containing the aluminum
ion are acidic due to the reaction of this ion with water to produce Al(H 2O)5(OH)2+ and H+. Aluminum forms an insuluble hydroxide
Al(OH)3 in the presence of hydroxide ions and the soluble aluminate ion, Al(OH)4- , in the presence of excess hydroxide ions."

It takes 20 times as much energy to make aluminum as it does to recycle it.

Fred
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