Processes for synthesizing alkali metal borohydride compounds
AssigneeMillennium Cell, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey V. Ortega, Ying Wu, Steven C. Amendola, Michael T. Kelly
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Abstract
Processes for synthesizing borohydride compounds with reduced energy requirements and high efficiency are disclosed. The processes include the reaction of a base with a borane complex or diborane to produce a borohydride compound of formula YBH4, where Y is a monovalent cationic moiety.
Claims45
A process for producing borohydride compounds, comprising reacting diborane with a carbonate compound of formula Y2CO3 in aqueous solution at a temperature of about −5 to about 20° C., wherein Y is a monovalent cationic moiety, thereby producing a borohydride compound of formula YBH4.
A process for producing borohydride compounds, wherein the process comprises reacting a borane complex with a base in a solution comprising a non-aqueous polar solvent, thereby providing a borohydride compound of formula YBH4, wherein Y is a monovalent cationic moiety and the base is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide of formula YOH and a carbonate of formula Y2CO3.
A process for producing borohydride compounds, comprising reacting gaseous diborane with a base in the solid phase in the absence of solvent, thereby providing a borohydride of formula YBH4, where Y is a monovalent cationic moiety and the base is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide of formula YOH and a carbonate of formula Y2CO3.
A process for producing borohydride compounds, comprising reacting gaseous diborane with a base suspended in a non-aqueous polar solvent, thereby providing a borohydride of formula YBH4, where Y is a monovalent cationic moiety and the base is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxide of formula YOH and a carbonate of formula Y2CO3.
A process for producing borohydride compounds, comprising:
- (a) reacting gaseous diborane with a carbonate of formula Y2CO3 in the solid phase in the absence of solvent, thereby providing a borohydride of formula YBH4, a borate of formula YBO2, and unreacted solid carbonate, where Y is a monovalent cationic moiety;
- (b) isolating the borohydride;
- (c) adding an alcohol, wherein the borate is substantially soluble in the alcohol and the unreacted solid carbonate is substantially insoluble in the alcohol;
- and
- (d) isolating the unreacted solid carbonate.
A process for producing borohydride compounds, comprising:
- (a) reacting gaseous diborane with a carbonate of formula Y2CO3 suspended in a nonaqueous polar solvent, thereby providing a borohydride of formula YBH4, a borate of formula YBO2, and unreacted solid carbonate, where Y is a monovalent cationic moiety;
- (b) isolating the borohydride;
- (c) adding an alcohol, wherein the borate is substantially soluble in the alcohol and the unreacted solid carbonate is substantially insoluble in the alcohol;
- and
- (d) isolating the unreacted solid carbonate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.