In this study, grinded apricot kernel shell (GAKS) biobased waste was used for the first time as a cost-effective, efficient, green and metal-free catalyst for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis reaction of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). For the hydrogen production by NaBH₄ hydrolysis reaction, GAKS was treated with various acids (HCl, HNO₃, CH₃COOH, H₃PO₄), salt (ZnCl₂) and base (KOH). As a result, the phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) demonstrated better catalytic activity than other chemical agents. The hydrolysis of NaBH₄ with the GAKS-catalyst (GAKS_cat) was studied depending on different parameters such as acid concentration, furnace burning temperature and time, catalyst amount, NaBH₄ concentration and hydrolysis reaction temperature. The obtained GAKS_cat was characterized by ICP-MS, elemental analysis, TGA, XRD, FT-IR, Boehm, TEM and SEM analyses and was evaluated for its catalytic activity in the hydrogen production from the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH₄. According to the results, the optimal H₃PO₄ percentage was found as 15%. The maximum hydrogen generation rate from the hydrolysis of NaBH₄ with the GAKS_cat was calculated as 20,199 mL min⁻¹ g_cat⁻¹. As a result, it can be said that GAKS treated with 15% H₃PO₄ as a catalyst for hydrogen production is an effective alternative due to its high hydrogen production rate.