SpudFiles

Hi all. I have been seriously considering building an electrolysis machine but I have a couple questions.

1: I have seen electrolysis machines that have some kind of water displacment device on the collection unit. what is this for?

2: what would be the best material for the electrodes? Could I just use hardware store nuts and bolts?

3: what kind of easily obtainable catalyst would be best/safest for obtimal gas production?

Sorry if those sound newbish but if you dont like it, dont reply.

mopherman wrote: 1: I have seen electrolysis machines that have some kind of water displacment device on the collection unit. what is this for?

It is so there are no gases in the collection vessel other than the H2 and O2 you put in.

2: what would be the best material for the electrodes? Could I just use hardware store nuts and bolts?

The bolts will oxidize, you would be better off using something like the carbon rods found inside a 6v battery.

3: what kind of easily obtainable catalyst would be best/safest for optimal gas production?

Catalyst? We don't need no stinking catalyst! What you do need is an electrolyte added to your water to aid in the flow of those cute little electrons. My suggestion? Sodium Bicarbonate, commonly sold as baking soda in your local supermarket.

Sorry if those sound newbish but if you dont like it, dont reply.

This is just going to piss off all the people that clicked this topic specifically so they could tell you to search for yourself.

i would suggest KOH or NaOH as electrolytes

Ehhh, seeing as how he didn't know the difference between a catalyst and an electrolyte, I would suggest staying away from the strong bases....

lol, good point

so only use the stuff i said if you have had a chem class before and have the proper safety equipment

Well, if all the electrolyte has to do is increase conductivity, couldn't he just add good ol' table salt, or am I missing something here?

(Never liked chemistry, btw :p)

table salt with produce Cl (chlorine) gas which will pollute the intended product gases (O2 and H2) not to mention its kinda deadly to breath

sodium bicarbonate its much safer (also known as baking soda)

2: what would be the best material for the electrodes? Could I just use hardware store nuts and bolts?

Most hard ware stores sell stainless steel bolts. Thats what i used and my electrolysis machine is still running strong.

Killjoy wrote:

2: what would be the best material for the electrodes? Could I just use hardware store nuts and bolts?

Most hard ware stores sell stainless steel bolts. Thats what i used and my electrolysis machine is still running strong.

This is actually not a bad idea. They will be relatively cheap, and the threads will make a nice bit of surface area.

This is actually not a bad idea. They will be relatively cheap, and the threads will make a nice bit of surface area.

I also used stainless steel wahsers and bits of rubber as spacers to further increase the surface area.

You mention this thing is still up and running, perhaps some pictures? It would be interesting to see some other's setups.

Even better, I posted a how-to a while back on making one. Here's the link http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/how-to- ... t8305.html

Sadely the thing leaks like a radiator with a golfball through it, so high pressure (or medium pressure for that matter) are non existant. Seeing as some interest has been sparked, I think I might rebuild it this weekend so that it is leak proof and I can start trying out hydrogen oxygen mixes in my new hybrid.

That's neat Killjoy, sad to hear it leaks.
Has anyone gone through the trouble of calculating the cost of producing hydrogen via electrolysis?
In recent years I have gone to production from HCl, and have calculated the cost at about $115/kg. (Of course a kilo of H2 is a lot of gas, 22,224 or so liters at STP)

Edit-
Also note that this method does not produce any O2, which is a valuable product in and of itself. Though 1L of H2 may cost more from electrolysis, (I don't know if it does, but I suspect it.) it also comes with 500mL of O2.

Well today I built a new electrolysis machine which is much better and much safer then my first. I just finished writing a how-to for it, here's the link
http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtop ... tml#132544