Production of Methyl Borate for Sodium Borohydride (NaBH4): Hydrogen Storage Medium

Abstract

The storage and production of hydrogen are the main problem for fuel cell applications. Hydrogen storage technologies can be separated into physical storage, where hydrogen is stored as a liquefied or compressed gas, and chemical storage, where metals and other materials adsorbed hydrogen. Chemical hydrides are a well-known class of compounds that have the high hydrogen capacity. Of these hydrides, sodium borohydride (NaBH4), is more stable according to other chemical hydrides and more easily convert to H-2 in presence of catalysis. NaBH4 can be produced in many different ways by using different materials.such as various boron minerals, boron products, methyl borate esters, metal hydride...etc. In the present study methyl borate, used as a starting material in NaBH4 production process, was synthesized from borax mineral. Obtained product was identified by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC MS). In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR) was used for characterization of methyl borate azeotrope and synthesized methyl borate.