Energy from Boron and Non-nuclear Metallic Fuels

Abstract

This study aims to obtain the energy from elemental boron burning as solid fuel, which is synthesized from boron minerals, aluminum, iron, and their substances. To obtain the elemental boron from borax, first boric acid (H₃BO₃) was obtained from borax decahydrate by using HCl or H₂SO₄. The boric acid was converted to boron oxide by dehydration process. For reducing the boric acid and the boron oxide into elemental boron, the elemental magnesium, butyl nitrite (C₅H₉NO₂), sawdust, charcoal, and cellulose can be used. As a result, elemental boron obtained by these methods was tested by burning to see whether it was pure. Among these methods, by using the elemental magnesium (Mg) and butyl nitride (C₅H₉NO₂), obtaining elemental boron was more reasonable than the others. The metallic aluminum powder burns to result a strong exothermic reaction in the presence of the magnesium stripe. The manufacture of hydrogen on an industrial scale involves the reaction between steam and iron. The alkali metals, lithium, sodium, and potassium react violently with water at the ambient temperature, yielding hydrogen.

Keywords:

• aluminum
• boron
• hydrogen
• iron
• magnesium
• metal hydride
• rocket fuel