Catalytic activities of non-noble metal catalysts (CuB, FeB, and NiB) with C.Vulgaris microalgal strain support modified by using phosphoric acid for hydrogen generation from sodium borohydride methanolysis

Abstract

Abstract In this study, a novel microalgae based support material was developed and applied. The Chlorella Vulgaris microalgal strain was modified by treating the algal biomass with phosphoric acid for proton binding process (CVMS-H3PO4). Ultimately, the CVMS-H3PO4-metal (Cu B, Ni B, or Fe B) catalysts were used as highly efficient solid catalysts to produce hydrogen from the methanolysis of NaBH4. Once the superior metal was identified, the NaBH4 concentration, metal percentage in the supported-catalyst, catalyst amount, and temperature effect on the methanolysis reaction was thoroughly investigated. The maximum hydrogen production rate for the CVMS-H3PO4 supported-catalyst was obtained with the use of 20% Cu metal at 30\xa0°C and it was found to be 6500\xa0mL/min/gcat. In addition, the maximum hydrogen production rate for the CVMS-H3PO4 supported-catalyst was attained with the use of 20% Cu metal at 60\xa0°C and it was found to be 21176\xa0mL/min/gcat. Also, the activation energy was determined as 23.79\xa0kJ/mol. The re-usability studies of the microalgal strain supported-Cu B catalyst were performed and it was found that there was no decrease in % conversion for this catalyst. XRD, FTIR, SEM, and ICP-MS analysis were carried out to characterize CVMS-H3PO4 CuB catalyst thoroughly.