Sodium Borohydride for Solid-State Green Hydrogen Export
Curtin University
Aneeka graduated with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, and is currently a PhD candidate at Curtin University. Her research focuses on the regeneration of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) for solid-state green hydrogen export. Sodium borohydride has a high hydrogen content and is a powder at room temperature, making it safe to export. Once the sodium borohydride is at its destination, water can be added in the presence of a metal catalyst to release hydrogen and a by-product, sodium metaborate (NaBO2), which can be returned via ship to Australia. Aneeka is investigating cost-effective methods to electrochemically regenerate NaBH4 from NaBO2 to create a closed loop hydrogen export cycle. This will reduce the raw material requirements and be powered by renewable energy sources to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and ensure that green hydrogen is exported.