Patent ID: 7803349

Claim:
A method for producing hydrogen from water comprising the steps of: a) selecting a vessel without water consisting of a first holding area for at least one metallic ingredient that can release hydrogen when reacting with water and a second holding area for at least one inorganic hydride that can release hydrogen when reacting with water; b) placing the metallic ingredient in the first holding area and the inorganic hydride in the second holding area within the vessel without water; c) keeping the metallic ingredient and inorganic hydride separate until the reaction with water is desired for the production of hydrogen; d) adding to the metallic ingredient at least one transition metal compound that can catalyze the reaction of the metallic ingredient and the inorganic hydride wherein the addition of the transition metal compound is prior to adding water; e) adding water to the vessel to cover the first holding area with the metallic ingredient-transition metal combination and the second holding area with the inorganic hydride; and f) collecting hydrogen released from the decomposition of water in a synergistic aqueous reaction of metallic ingredient and inorganic hydride at ambient conditions of temperature and pressure.