Green hydrogen evolution inhibition from Al–Li alloy dust using Ginkgo biloba extract: a sustainable approach for safe wet dust collection

Abstract

Aluminum-lithium (Al–Li) alloys, widely used for their lightweight and high-strength properties, pose significant hydrogen explosion risks during wet dust collection due to rapid hydrolysis. This study investigates the hydrogen evolution risk of Al–Li alloy dust in water and proposes the use of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), a green and cost-effective natural inhibitor, to mitigate hydrogen release. Hydrogen evolution experiments revealed that Al–Li alloy dust has a high initial hydrogen release rate, which can further increase under high-temperature and low-pressure conditions, adding to the risk of hydrogen explosion. GBE effectively inhibited this reaction, achieving a maximum inhibition efficiency of 94.66 % at an optimal concentration of 0.45 wt%, while maintaining stability under temperature fluctuations. Kinetic studies showed a significant increase inapparent activation energy (up to 87.51 kJ/mol), suggesting reduced reaction rate in the presence of GBE. Mechanistic analysis revealed that GBE spontaneously adsorbs onto the Al–Li alloy dust surface. Its N- and O-containing functional groups coordinate with surface Al atoms to form stable bonds; its aromatic structure facilitates π–d orbital interactions, enhancing adsorption strength. Our findings demonstrate the potential of GBE as a sustainable inhibitor for improving industrial safety in wet dust collection systems.