Parametric study for saline water electrolysis: Part I-hydrogen production

The purpose of this work is to study the electrolysis of saline water for the production of hydrogen. The main difficulties anticipated are the evolution of chlorine gas as the anodic product and the gradual build-up of insoluble precipitates on the cathode surface. In this paper, Part I in a series of three papers, a comparison is presented first between the established processes of electrolyzing alkaline water and brine, on the one hand, vs saline water electrolysis on the other. Next, a number of parameters are investigated, including salinity, voltage, current density and quantity of electricity. Their effects on hydrogen production are reported using a modified simple Hoffman electrolysis cell. Results of chlorine evolution and precipitate formation and their impact on cell performance are reported in Parts II and III, respectively.