Catalytic activites of a biomaterial (sumac) catalyst in sodium borohyride methanolysis reactions

•The maximum hydrogen generation rate was found as 8298.5 mLmin−1gcat−1.•Using the Arrhenius equation, the activation energy for the DS-HCl-Co catalyst is calculated as 31.67 kJ/mol and this value is lower than some reported values when compared to the literature.•DS-HCl-Co catalyst can be used both in energy production and energy storage. Biomass waste (sumac) in particular, is an excellent starting point for preparing carbon materials since it is abundant, inexpensive, environmentally beneficial, and renewable. Therefore, the aim of the present study is defatted sumac (DS)- hydrochloric acid (HCl)- cobalt (Co) (DS-HCl-Co) catalyst (it will be used as a catalyst for the first time) in the presence of low activation energy and high hydrogen production rate (HPR). The effect of different parameters such as amount of catalyst, concentration of NaBH4 and temperature on HPR value obtained as a result of NaBH4 methanolysis in the presence of DS-HCl-Co catalyst have been investigated. The synthesized catalysts are named DS-HCl (pure) and DS-HCl-Co (supported). While the HPR value (mL*gcat−1 *min−1) obtained as a result of the hydrolysis experiments carried out is 3516.16 for the DS-HCl catalyst, it is 8298.5 for the DS-HCl-Co catalyst. Thus, it should be noted that the HPR value increases approximately 2.36 times in the presence of support material. Our other motivation in the current study is to have low activation energy, which is an important factor that increases catalytic activity. Using the Arrhenius equation, the activation energy for the DS-HCl-Co catalyst is calculated as 31.67 kJ/mol and this value is lower than some reported values ​​when compared to the literature. As a result, it can be said that the DS-HCl-Co catalyst is a unique, inexpensive, and ideal catalyst with high activity values ​​for hydrogen production from alkali hydrides.