Patent ID: 7261874

Claim:
A method for hydrogen production using sulfur compounds, wherein the sulfur compounds are in a gaseous state throughout the method, comprising the steps of: (a) decomposing gaseous SO 3 into gaseous SO 2 and gaseous O 2 , (b) separating the SO 2 from the O 2 , and (c) oxidizing the SO 2 with gaseous H 2 O in a hydrogen producing electrolyzer with electrolysis at a temperature of from about 20° C. to 200° C. to form gaseous SO 3 and gaseous H 2 ; by the following reactions at a temperature of from about 20° C. to 200° C.: SO 2 +H 2 O→SO 3 +2H + +2 e − , wherein, the H + diffuse through a hydrated ion transfer membrane, which H + is recovered as a H 2 product, by the reaction: 2H + +2 e −→ H 2 leaving the SO 3 as a gas, and wherein the method further comprises the step of cooling a first portion of the SO 2 and O 2 produced in step (a) with water in a heat exchange relationship, and wherein the sulfur compounds are in a gaseous state throughout the method.