Tin as a Possible Candidate for Solar Thermochemical Redox Process for Hydrogen Production

The feasibility to produce hydrogen in the Sn-H₂O/SnO₂-C thermochemical water splitting redox process depends mainly on the efficiency of the tin hydrolysis step which has not been studied adequately so far, whereas the carboreduction step was investigated because of the industrial production of tin from its mineral casseterite using charcoal or anthracite as reducing agents. The present work deals with the hydrolysis process of different kinds of tin powders at different experimental conditions at moderate temperature range of 180–620°C. In spite of the fact that the rate of hydrogen production is lower compared to other metals e.g. zinc, at the same reactor temperature, high conversion and hydrogen yield were obtained in a controllable reaction. Consequently, tin can be a promising candidate considering the advantage of significant lower temperatures required for the solar carboreduction of its oxide.