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6CCVD Research

Hydrogen Generation from the Hydrolysis of Diamond-Wire Sawing Silicon Waste Powder Vibration-Ground with KCl

At a Glance

Section titled “At a Glance”
MetadataDetails
Publication Date2025-01-08
JournalMolecules
AuthorsZhicheng Li, Tao Zhou, Jiali Liao, Xiufeng Li, Wenhui Ma
InstitutionsYunnan Institute of Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University
Citations2
AnalysisFull AI Review Included

Executive Summary

Section titled “Executive Summary”

This research presents a highly efficient, “waste-to-treasure” technique for generating hydrogen gas via the alkaline hydrolysis of Diamond-Wire Sawing Silicon Waste (DSSW).

  • Core Value Proposition: The method utilizes industrial silicon waste (DSSW) and mechanical activation (vibration grinding) with KCl to significantly enhance hydrogen production kinetics, mitigating resource waste and environmental concerns.
  • Optimal Performance: The DSSW-KCl 25 wt% composite powder, ground for 180 s, achieved a high hydrogen yield of 86.1% and an Initial Hydrogen Generation Rate (IHGR) of 399.37 mL min-1 (g DSSW)-1 at 318 K.
  • Kinetic Enhancement: Increasing the initial temperature to 338 K dramatically accelerated the reaction, yielding an IHGR of 1383.6 mL min-1 (g DSSW)-1 and achieving 85% conversion in just 100 s.
  • Mechanism of Activation: KCl acts as the superior grinding agent by increasing surface roughness, preventing cold-welding/oxidation, and introducing synergistic chemical effects (K+ forming highly basic KOH, and Cl- inducing pitting corrosion on Si particles).
  • Reaction Control: The apparent activation energy was determined to be 45.62 kJ mol-1. Kinetic modeling confirms the rapid initial reaction phase is controlled by the chemical reaction rate, transitioning to diffusion control as the reaction slows.

Technical Specifications

Section titled “Technical Specifications”
ParameterValueUnitContext
Raw MaterialDSSW (Silicon Waste)Purity 92.2%Single crystal silicon enterprise source
Optimal Grinding AgentKCl25 wt%Highest IHGR and yield performance
Optimal Grinding Time180sAchieved minimum particle size
Standard Reaction Temperature318K0.5 mol L-1 NaOH solution
Maximum Hydrogen Yield86.1%Optimal DSSW-KCl 25 wt% at 318 K
IHGR (Standard Condition)399.37mL min-1 (g DSSW)-1Initial rate at 318 K
IHGR (High Temperature)1383.6mL min-1 (g DSSW)-1Initial rate at 338 K
Time to 85% Conversion100sAchieved at 338 K
Apparent Activation Energy (Ea)45.62kJ mol-1Derived from Arrhenius plot
Specific Surface Area (Optimal)19.613m2 g-1DSSW-KCl 25 wt% sample
NaOH Concentration0.5mol L-1Hydrolysis medium concentration
Kinetic Model (Fast Stage)Chemical Reaction ControlN/ARate-determining step
Kinetic Model (Slow Stage)Diffusion ControlN/ARate-determining step (OH- diffusion)

Key Methodologies

Section titled “Key Methodologies”

The study utilized a two-step process: composite powder synthesis via vibration grinding, followed by hydrolysis testing in a self-assembled system.

I. DSSW-KCl Composite Powder Preparation

Section titled “I. DSSW-KCl Composite Powder Preparation”
  1. Material Selection: Diamond-Wire Sawing Silicon Waste (DSSW, 92.2% Si) was mixed with various grinding agents (KCl, NaCl, CaCl2, ZnCl2, CuCl2) to form DSSW-X composites.
  2. Mechanical Activation: The mixtures were subjected to vibration grinding using a GJ-1B machine. Optimal conditions were determined to be 25 wt% KCl and a grinding duration of 180 s.
  3. Storage: To prevent partial oxidation and preserve reactivity, the ground composite powder was immediately transferred to a vacuum-sealed bag and stored in a vacuum-drying oven until use.

II. Hydrolysis Experiment

Section titled “II. Hydrolysis Experiment”
  1. Setup: A self-assembled hydrolysis hydrogen generation system was used, operating at atmospheric pressure.
  2. Reaction Conditions: Approximately 0.03 g of the DSSW-KCl composite powder was combined with 10 mL of 0.5 mol L-1 NaOH solution in a 50 mL double-necked reaction flask.
  3. Temperature Control: The reaction flask was immersed in a constant-temperature water bath, typically maintained at 318 K (45 °C), with tests also performed up to 338 K.
  4. Measurement: Hydrogen gas was passed through a washing bottle to remove moisture, then weighed continuously on an electronic balance connected to a computer for real-time data recording of hydrogen yield and IHGR.

III. Characterization and Kinetic Analysis

Section titled “III. Characterization and Kinetic Analysis”
  1. Structural Analysis: X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the presence of Si and KCl, analyze crystallite size reduction, and observe overlapping diffraction peaks due to KCl incorporation.
  2. Morphology: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping confirmed the transition from large blockbusters to small fragments and verified the homogeneous distribution of KCl around the Si particles.
  3. Kinetic Modeling: The classic shrinking core non-reactive core model was applied to the experimental data.
    • The rapid initial phase was fitted to the interfacial chemical reaction control model.
    • The slower subsequent phase was fitted to the diffusion control model (governed by OH- movement).
  4. Activation Energy: The apparent activation energy (Ea) was calculated using the Arrhenius plot based on the chemical reaction rate constants (k) derived from the fast reaction stage.

Commercial Applications

Section titled “Commercial Applications”

This technology offers a viable pathway for sustainable hydrogen production, particularly leveraging industrial waste streams.

Application AreaRelevance to DSSW-KCl Hydrolysis
Portable Power SystemsProvides rapid, on-demand hydrogen generation, ideal for portable fuel cells where safe, compact storage is critical. The high IHGR at elevated temperatures supports quick startup.
Photovoltaic Waste RecyclingDirectly addresses the environmental and resource waste issues associated with Diamond-Wire Sawing Silicon Waste (DSSW), facilitating a “waste-to-treasure” circular economy approach.
Decentralized Hydrogen ProductionEnables small-scale, localized hydrogen generation without relying on large, centralized storage and transportation infrastructure, mitigating risks associated with highly flammable gas transport.
Chemical Feedstock GenerationCan serve as a source of high-purity hydrogen for various industrial chemical processes, especially in remote locations or where traditional electrolysis is cost-prohibitive.
Advanced Material SynthesisThe byproduct of the reaction, silica (Na2SiO3), can potentially be recovered and utilized in other industrial processes, such as glass or ceramic manufacturing.
View Original Abstract

Diamond-wire sawing silicon waste (DSSW) derived from the silicon wafer sawing process may lead to resource waste and environmental issues if not properly utilized. This paper propounds a simple technique aimed at enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen production from DSSW. The hydrolysis reaction is found to become faster when DSSW is ground. Among the studied grinding agents, KCl has the best performance. The grinding duration and addition amount remarkably affect the final hydrogen yield and initial hydrogen generation rate (IHGR). Among all studied samples, DSSW-KCl 25 wt% ground for 3 min shows the best performance with a hydrogen yield of 86.1% and an IHGR of 399.37 mL min−1 (g DSSW)−1 within 650 s. The initial temperature is also found to have a significant influence on the hydrolysis of the DSSW-KCl mixture, and the reaction can proceed to 85% conversion in 100 s with an IHGR of 1383.6 mL min−1 (g DSSW)−1 at 338 K. The apparent activation energy for the hydrolysis reaction of the DSSW-KCl composite powder was found to be 45.62 kJ mol−1 by means of an Arrhenius plot. The rate-determining step for the rapid reaction of DSSW to produce hydrogen is chemical reaction control, while the slow reaction is controlled by diffusion.

Tech Support

Section titled “Tech Support”

Original Source

Section titled “Original Source”

References

Section titled “References”
  1. 2007 - World energy analysis: H2 now or later? [Crossref]
  2. 2009 - Hydrogen generation by aluminum corrosion in seawater promoted by suspensions of aluminum hydroxide [Crossref]
  3. 2008 - Renewable hydrogen production [Crossref]
  4. 2008 - Hydrolysis of ball milling Al-Bi-hydride and Al-Bi-salt mixture for hydrogen generation [Crossref]
  5. 2024 - Biohydrogen production from solar and wind assisted af-mec coupled with mfc, pem electrolysis of H2O and H2 fuel cell for small-scale applications [Crossref]
  6. 2002 - Hydrogen as a fuel and its storage for mobility and transport [Crossref]
  7. 2007 - Metal hydride materials for solid hydrogen storage: A review [Crossref]
  8. 2009 - A novel method for generating hydrogen by hydrolysis of highly activated aluminum nanoparticles in pure water [Crossref]
  9. 2005 - Activation of aluminum metal and its reaction with water [Crossref]
  10. 2016 - Ball-milled si powder for the production of H2 from water for fuel cell applications [Crossref]

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