Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting hydrogen sorption and dissociation on an adsorbent metal at an elevated temperature, wherein the method is carried out in an apparatus including a vessel for containing an adsorbent metal, the vessel including a hydrogen intake path and a hydrogen discharge path, a pair of electrodes located at opposite ends of the vessel such that the vessel is insulated to the electrodes, and a source of power for supplying electric current to the electrodes, so as to effect electric current between the electrodes through the adsorbent metal.

Abstract: Hydrogen is recovered from aqueous hydriodic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid, in an electrolysis cell having an anode and cathode compartment separated by a hydrogen ion permeable membrane, by electrochemically liberating iodine in the anode compartment by anodization of iodide anions, and electrochemically generating hydrogen in the cathode compartment from hydrogen cations that migrate across the membrane.

Abstract: A method for controlling hydrogen charging of hydride forming metals through a window of a superimposed layer of a non-hydriding metal overlying the portion of the hydride forming metals to be charged.

Abstract: There is provided an efficient method of storing hydrogen in materials of small mass and small volume. The products of the present invention comprise intimate mixtures (as opposed to alloys) of magnesium and other metals or alloys capable of forming hydrides. The hydrides are selected so that the hydrides have a substantially lower thermal stability than that of magnesium hydride.

Abstract: This invention concerns an efficient, high recovery, single product, multiple-stage process for producing high BTU methane from a low BTU feed gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen and other materials. In the process, impurities like hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are removed at the appropriate point. The carbon monoxide is removed and split into two streams. One stream is reacted with steam to provide additional hydrogen which is mixed with the other carbon monoxide stream and passed to a methanator. The hydrogen in the feed gas is recovered in an especially efficient two stage manner which is suitable for use with standard cooling water and which reduces metallurgical problems, compression requirements and heat requirements. In the first stage, metal hydrides are formed, thereby separating the hydrogen in the feed gas from nitrogen and the nitrogen exits and is removed.

Abstract: Potassium hydride and mixtures of potassium hydride with other alkali metal hydrides are prepared by contacting hydrogen with potassium or potassium alloys with other alkali metals, dispersed in an inert fluid, in the presence of a potassium phenanthride catalyst.

Abstract: Titanium subhydride is produced in a reactor by heating a selected amount of finely divided titanium compound at a selected temperature for a selected period of time under dynamic vacuum conditions. Hydrogen is removed substantially uniformly from each powder grain and there is produced a subhydride of substantially uniform titanium-hydrogen composition. Selection of the amount, temperature and time produces a subhydride of selected titanium-hydrogen composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of restoring the pressure-composition characteristics of a disproportionated hydride comprising removing substantially all hydrogen from said disproportionated hydride and maintaining said hydride in a substantially hydrogen-free environment at a regeneration temperature sufficient to effectuate desired restoration of the hydride's pressure-composition characteristics. Also disclosed are methods of insitu regeneration of hydrides in process applications.

Abstract: A metal material, which is capable of reacting with hydrogen to form a metal hydride, is simultaneously granulated and conditioned with hydrogen to activate the metal material to a state in which it is capable of readily reacting with and absorbing hydrogen. The granulation and activation are achieved by heating the metal material to a temperature of at least about 200.degree. F. and treating the heated metal material with hydrogen, while concurrently subjecting the metal material to mechanical impact to reduce the average particle size thereof to less than about 1 centimeter.

Abstract: A hydride of the gross formula AB.sub.n H.sub.m, in which A is calcium or one or more of the rare earth metals with or without thorium, zirconium, or hafnium, B is nickel and/or cobalt, with or without iron and/or copper, n has a value between about 3 and 8.5 and m has a value up to about 7.

Abstract: Crack-free hydrides of zirconium and zirconium-uranium alloys are produced by alloying the zirconium or zirconium-uranium alloy with beryllium, or nickel, or beryllium and scandium, or nickel and scandium, or beryllium and nickel, or beryllium, nickel and scandium and thereafter hydriding.

Abstract: Hydrogen containing alloys of the formula Zr(A.sub.1-x B.sub.x).sub.2 are disclosed in which A designates V, Mn or Cr, B designates Fe or Co, and x is between 0.05 and 0.9. Storage systems for hydrogen comprising such an alloy are also disclosed as well as a method for the controlled storage and release of hydrogen which comprises charging such an alloy with hydrogen and releasing the hydrogen at a desired predetermined rate by heating it to a certain predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel AlH.sub.3 crystallizing liquid comprising crystalline aluminum hydride, an aliphatic ether and an inert organic liquid. The invention also concerns a novel process for providing the crystallizing liquid.

Abstract: Thermal energy storage systems employing metal hydrides are useful for storing thermal energy produced, for example, by solar radiation. The metal hydrides, examples of which include FeTiH and the VH-VH.sub.2 reaction system, evidence ease of reversibility of the metal-hydrogen reaction and have relatively high heats of formation. An additional advantage of the metal hydrides over other thermal storage materials is that the metal hydrides permit a greater degree of control to be exercised over the rate of heat evolution when needed.

Abstract: An arrangement and method of burner ignition utilizing hydrogen which is stored, periodically released, and ignited in one fashion or another, to thus function as a pilot to ignite the burner. In accordance with the invention, the hydrogen is stored as a metal hydride in a pressure vessel, such that the process of igniting the burner can be repeated until the metal hydride has given up all of its hydrogen.

Abstract: Preparation of stable solutions of aluminum hydride in liquid hydrocarbons such as benzene or toluene by a one-step reaction between, for instance, 1 mole of aluminum chloride with 3 moles of lithium hydride in said liquid hydrocarbon medium and in the presence of a weak ether base such as dimethyl ether, an aliphatic tertiary amine such as trimethylamine being added.

Abstract: 1. A novel process for preparing beryllium hydride and aluminum hydride which comprises;A. adding a solution of beryllium borohydride to a solution of lithium aluminum hydride such that the ratio of lithium aluminum hydride to beryllium borohydride on a gram mole basis ranges from about 2 to about 5 and precipitating beryllium hydride in the resulting mixture, the solvent for said lithium aluminum hydride and beryllium borohydride being a liquid material inert to the reactants and products and dissolving said beryllium borohydride and lithium aluminum hydride but being a substantially non-solvent for beryllium hydride,B. separating said solid beryllium hydride from the reaction mass,C. stripping said solvent from the residual reaction mixture,D. heating the resulting substantially dry product mass at an elevated temperature of from about 45.degree. to about 140.degree. C. for a period of from about 0.25 to about 24 hours, andE.