Highly efficient CoB catalyst using a support material based on Spirulina microalgal strain treated with ZnCl2 for hydrogen generation via sodium borohydride methanolysis

In the study, a different support material based on ZnCl₂‐treated Spirulina microalgal strain (SSMS‐ZnCl₂) was prepared. Then, the SSMS‐ZnCl₂‐CoB catalysts were used as a very efficient catalyst to produce hydrogen via the SB methanolysis. The SB concentration, Co metal percentage in the supported‐catalyst, ZnCl₂ concentration, ZnCl₂ impregnation time, temperature, and reusability experiments were performed. The maximum hydrogen generation rates (HGR) for the SSMS‐ZnCl₂‐CoB at 30°C and 60°C were found to be 9266 and 36 366 mL min^?1 g_cat^?1, respectively. In addition, TOF values for 30°C and 60°C were calculated 33 and 110 L·mol_H2·mol_Co^?1·min^?1 for the methanolysis of SB with SSMS‐ZnCl₂‐CoB catalyst. The activation energy was 31.13 kJ mol^?1. The reusability experiments were repeated five times under the same conditions. The almost 100% conversion was obtained at each use. XRD, FTIR, TEM, SEM‐EDX, and ICP‐MS analysis were performed for SSMS‐ZnCl₂‐CoB characterization.