(Cross-posted from e-catworld )
Axil, Although some aspects of this reaction may be occurring, I suspect that the large crystal sizes for both the iron and lithium aluminum hydrate suggest that this fuel does not have sufficiently dispersed nano-scale reactants, which this article discusses as a distinguishing feature. Instead, I suspect that the iron is a large grain of fractured electrical steel which is used in bulk form to modulate the induced EMF stimulation into locally-enhanced gradients and spectral distributions, for SPP pumping. That is certainly how it appears in the fuel photograph, (particle 3, pages 43-44) at about 150x200 microns in size, with no apparent abrasions from ball milling or similar processes. The LiAlH4 also appears to be (particle 2, pages 43-44) a solid grain of 50x100 microns, and shows yield fractures and signs of being cut from a compressed form, which I believe is the tablet version of LiAlH4, rather than the powdered version. The tablet form is known to be much more stable in air than the powder. Sigma-Aldrich carries the tablets as product #323403. I suspect that 1-5 micron carbonyl-process nickel grains were tumbled with partially crushed or cut tablet grains, such as particle 2 shows, to prep for reactor startup. Ultrasonic stimulation of the nickel particles is known to promote clustering as well, and I suspect this may be a part of the fuel preparation process also. I suspect that Rochelle Salt (aka Potassium Sodium Tartrate) is being used as to bind the AlH4 ligands during startup, which may be a source of some of the potassium and sodium observed. The unlabeled particles that appear in Figure 3a on page 44, just below and touching the label box for particle 1, both exhibit a similar morphology that is distinct from that of particles 1, 2 and 3. I suspect these particles could be Rochelle Salt. As Bob Higgins pointed out previously, the role of other chemical getters, such as used in vacuum tube manufacturing and other controlled-atmosphere reactions, seems likely, and could be a source for other fuel elements not yet attributed to specific reactants. Best wishes, -Bob Ellefson From: Axil Axil Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 9:35 AM Subject: [Vo]:About iron and cobalt in Rossi's fuel This might explain why iron and cobalt was found in the Rossi fuel charge. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the dehydrogenation properties of LiAlH4 doped with Fe2O3 and nanoparticles exhibit a dramatic improvement compared with that of as-received LiAlH4.
