Alternative method for generating hydrogen through high-energy mechanical milling using magnesium and methanol

This paper presents a new way to generate hydrogen through mechanical milling. Hydrogen was generated "in-situ " inside a stainless steel container where methanol and magnesium were utilized. The methanol atoms due to the high-impact process were broken to obtain hydrogen. In this same process, magnesium was selectively reacted with oxygen to form the corresponding oxide and hydrogen remain in gas form. Relatively short milling times were programmed. After the programmed times, hydrogen from the stainless steel container through liquid displacement was measured. Likewise, solids were analyzed before and after hydrogen production using XRD and SEM techniques. The volume of hydrogen was a function of the programmed milling time; the average values between 160 and 310 mL were obtained when the most appropriate amounts of magnesium and methanol were used. Only magnesium oxide was formed as by-product. XRD analyses demonstrated the transformation of magnesium and methanol to generate hydrogen. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.