A PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN

A process and apparatus for the production of hydrogen There is provided a process for the production of hydrogen, the process comprising: electrolysing water in an electrolytic cell to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, the electrolytic cell having a first outlet for hydrogen gas; passing the hydrogen gas from the first outlet of the electrolytic cell to a reaction chamber, the reaction chamber comprising a first inlet for receiving the hydrogen gas from the electrolytic cell and a second outlet for hydrogen gas passing out of the reaction chamber, the reaction chamber containing one or more pieces of a metal or an alloy thereof at least partially submerged in an alkali solution, wherein the first inlet is arranged so that the hydrogen gas bubbles through the alkali solution; passing the hydrogen gas from the second outlet to a gas-cleaning chamber, the gas-cleaning chamber comprising a second inlet for receiving hydrogen gas from the reaction chamber and a third outlet for hydrogen gas passing out of the cleaning chamber, the gas-cleaning chamber containing an aqueous solution, wherein the second inlet is arranged so that the hydrogen gas bubbles through the aqueous solution; and recovering hydrogen gas from the third outlet.