Microhydrogen production with water splitting from daily used waste aluminum

In this study, different types of waste aluminum produced in daily life and their pure equivalents were evaluated and compared in terms of their hydrogen generation performance through the water-splitting reaction. An experimental system was designed for the production process that consisted of electrodes, DC power supply, alkaline solution, and various waste aluminum products. The hydrogen generation rate of the aluminum source was then measured to determine the optimum conditions for hydrogen production with different types of pure and waste aluminum, normality of the aqueous solution, and applied DC voltage. The best results for micro-hydrogen generation were obtained using pure powder Aluminum, which was attributed to the increased active surface area for the reaction. For beverage can waste (and its powder form), the maximum hydrogen generation rate (cm3/g.min) was achieved using the powder form of the waste aluminum at 2 N alkaline solution. However, the total amount of hydrogen generation (cm3/g) yielded different results compared to the maximum hydrogen generation rate where, when the amount of hydrogen generation volume per mass was considered, the beverage can pieces achieved the best result under constant voltage. This result was attributed to a longer total reaction time. •Hydrogen production from waste Al drink cans are studied.•Parametric study is applied with voltage, concentration and forms of Al.•Micro-production of hydrogen is a good candidates for a sustainable energy system.