Metal hydride alloys for storing hydrogen produced by anaerobic bacterial fermentation

Abstract This study reports on hydrogen sorption from bacterial fermentation media with powdered palladium (Pd) and alloys (LaNi5, AB5, and AB2) that are capable of forming hydrides. Mass changes of the powders after incubation in fermentation media were measured by differential thermogravimetry. Composition and concentrations of the gases accumulated during fermentation and absorbed by Pd or the alloys were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The results demonstrated that hydrogen (H2) was absorbed and stored by powdered Pd and alloys directly from nutritional broth. The best sorption was obtained with Pd, followed by alloys AB5 and AB2. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that bacteria were …