Patent ID: 8003073

Claim:
A process comprising: a) providing a composition comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of: 1) a single molecule that is capable of reversible hydrogenation and oxidation, 2) at least two molecules wherein one of the molecules can undergo reversible catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, and another molecule that can undergo selective oxidation and 3) combinations of the foregoing, b) contacting the composition with at least one solid catalyst under endothermic reaction conditions sufficient to release gaseous hydrogen from the composition and produce an at least partially dehydrogenated composition, c) recovering the gaseous hydrogen, d) contacting the at least partially dehydrogenated composition under selective oxidation conditions with at least one solid catalyst to generate heat and an at least partially oxidized composition; wherein the temperature used during step d) is greater than the temperature used during step b), e) recovering at least a portion of the heat and using the recovered heat to provide at least part of the heat required for said hydrogen release, and; f) a recovering the at least partially oxidized composition.