Why don't they use waste aluminum to generate hydrogen for fuel cells?

Question

I find aluminum over NaOH is the easiest way to produce hydrogen (600 g Al can yield 70g=1litre liquid h2)

Answer 1

Maybe they will some day

http://www.physorg.com/news98556080.html

Answer 2

Because it’s not cost effective, you’re MUCH better oft charging batteries then refining aluminum. I am assuming you’re going to recycle the waste aluminum oxide so it could be refined again, or do you really plan on bring in more Bauxite ore?

You hear the same argument for hydrogen generated by solar cells, no matter how you slice it; you are much better oft charging batteries then making hydrogen or refining aluminum.

Answer 3

What in the heck is Waste Aluminum???  Most Aluminum is recylcable, and it requires ALOT of energy to produce it.

Answer 4

there is no such thing as waste aluminum, since like most metals, aluminum is 100% recyclable. also while aluminum can be used to make hydrogen, you have a problem with pure aluminum in that a coating of aluminum oxide prevents the rest of the metal from corroding. however alloy aluminum with gallium, and now you have a metal that will make hydrogen, and be fully consumed in the process. the problem though is that it is a wasteful way of making hydrogen, since the metals used can be used for other things, and when recycled eliminate the need for mining as much as would otherwise be required.

Answer 5

producing NAOH consumes more energy just to make 1 kilo of it. it is not very efficient. try to study more about chemistry. and the most efficient is nuclear batteries