Generation of hydrogen from various aqueous media using gamma radiation

Hydrogen generation was obtained with homogeneous n-C₆H₁₄, 88.5% n-C₆H₁₄+11.5% H₂O, 50% n-C₆H₁₄+50% H₂O and 11.5% n-C₆H₁₄+88.5% H₂O and heterogeneous Al₂O₃+n-C₆H₁₄, Al₂O₃+88.5% n-C₆H₁₄+11.5% H₂O, Al₂O₃+50% n-C₆H₁₄+50% H₂O and Al₂O₃+11.5% n-C₆H₁₄+88.5% H₂O systems. Hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, and hexane) and other organic molecules (methanol, acetaldehyde, and acetic acid) were also used for optimization. The activation energies were 3.50 and 3.74 kJ/mol for Al₂O₃+n-C₆H₁₄ and Al₂O₃+C₆H₁₄+H₂O systems. Maximum hydrogen produced was 54.0×1017 molecules/g. (author)