Patent ID: 7182851

Claim:
An electrolytic process that converts solid, liquid, or gas hydrocarbon compounds and water to carbon dioxide and hydrogen at high reaction rates comprising the step of using an electrolytic cell that operates without a diaphragm at high pressure and moderate temperature using catalysts in an electrolyte, wherein the electrolytic cell consists of an anode cell containing an anode electrode connected to a DC power source and an anode solution electrode connected by an external conductor to a cathode solution electrode and a cathode cell containing a cathode electrode connected to the DC power source and the cathode solution electrode and the electrolyte containing the catalysts and the hydrocarbon compounds are reacted with the water in the anode cell to produce the carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions and an electrolyte containing the hydrogen ions is transferred to the cathode cell and the hydrogen ions are reacted in the cathode cell to produce the hydrogen.