by FlashBang » Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:26 am
The more I read on LAH and H2O2.... the more I think that "FLASHBANG" might very well be appropriate.
In high concentrations H2O2 is prone to explode if it becomes pressurized or too hot.
I just read that LAH is a pyrophoric substance in its PURE form and will ignite spontaneously; that is, its autoignition temperature is below room temperature. It is shipped in moisture resistant plastic packaging since it is prone to reaction with atmospheric water. And there are repeated warnings "DO NOT USE WITH WATER".... "Reacts VIOLENTLY with water"...so perhaps this is not the "Holy Grail" of instant steam generation that I was hoping for. Maybe I should be looking for a much lower reducing agent.
In any case, it looks like IF is use LAH... it will be used up in the process and will leave me with several byproducts of the reaction and I have no idea what I will do with them.
Also.. found this..
LAH violently reacts with water, including atmospheric moisture. The reaction proceeds according the following idealized equation:
LiAlH4 + 4 H2O → LiOH + Al(OH)3 + 4 ↑H2
Now... this is both scary and quite exciting BECAUSE the results are Lithium Hydroxide and Aluminum Hydroxide and Hydrogen... plus quite a bit of heat.
Lithium hydroxide is used in breathing gas purification systems for spacecraft (Lithium hydroxide canisters in the LEM were lifelines for the Apollo 13 astronauts), submarines, and rebreathers to remove carbon dioxide from exhaled gas by producing lithium carbonate and water:[1]
2 LiOH·H2O + CO2 → Li2CO3 + 3 H2O
Or,
2LiOH + CO2 → Li2CO3 + H2O
The later, anhydrous hydroxide is preferred for its lower mass and lesser water production for respirator systems in spacecraft. 1 gram of anhydrous lithium hydroxide can remove 450 cm3 of carbon dioxide gas. Which means that one of the byproducts of this system could be used to convert some of our carbon footprint into Lithium Carbonate and Water... and Lithium Carbonate is used to treat people with Bi-Polar Syndrome, used in the making of Fireworks, and production of Lithium Ion Batteries. And the water can be reused in the system.
Aluminum Hydroxide has a number of valuable uses including its use in the production of Hydrogen Peroxide. Another is that it is the same chemical substance as Sapphires and Rubies... but it lacks certain impurities (which I am guessing could be added to create "artificial" or man-made precious gems). How is that for a byproduct?!?!?!?
That is just what you get when you put Lithium Aluminum Hydride in water. The reaction might be a bit different with H2O2... but I imagine the chemical results would be generally pretty close. Maybe I can find a way to get some plain O2 out to go with the Hydrogen to make some Hydroxy as well...
FlashBang!
Just becuase you are Paranoid doesn't mean that they are NOT out to get you!