Samples characterization involves XRD analysis, FESEM analysis, N2 adsorption/desorption analysis, and FTIR analysis. The XRD analysis showed characteristic peaks for different ferrites, while FESEM analysis revealed polyhedral shapes close to spherical morphology for all ferrites. N2 adsorption/desorption analysis indicated mesoporous and macropores structures in the samples. FTIR analysis showed characteristic absorption bands for different ferrites.
The activity test focused on the effectiveness of the synthesized catalysts in the process of sodium borohydride hydrolysis. The results indicated that the presence of bare supports resulted in a low generation of hydrogen, while copper ferrite outperformed the other samples due to its particle distribution. The incorporation of cobalt led to an enhancement in hydrogen production, with Co/Cu-Ferrite exhibiting the highest volume.
Effect of different parameters on catalyst activity, including catalyst quantity, feed flow rate, and temperature, were also investigated. The results showed that increasing catalyst dosage and flow rate led to higher hydrogen generation, while higher temperatures also increased the rate of reactions.
The kinetic study revealed a direct relationship between temperature and reaction rate, with Co/Cu-Ferrite showing the lowest activation energy. The reusability test demonstrated a decrease in catalyst activity with each subsequent use, attributed to factors such as catalyst mass decline and cobalt leaching.
Overall, the Co/Cu-Ferrite catalyst showed promising results in terms of hydrogen generation potential, activation energy, and hydrogen generation rate compared to other ferrite-based catalysts.
