Patent ID: 7491453

Claim:
A system for producing hydrogen, comprising: a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reaction chamber and an exterior of the reaction chamber; an anode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber, wherein the anode is porous to a liquid containing an organic substrate for anodophilic bacteria and wherein the anode partitions the reaction chamber to define a first interior space and a second interior space; a cathode at least partially contained within the second interior space of the reaction chamber, the cathode spaced apart at a distance in the range between 0.1-100 centimeters, inclusive, from the anode; a conductive conduit for electrons in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode; a power source for enhancing an electrical potential between the anode and cathode, the power source in electrical communication with the anode and cathode; a first channel defining a passage from the exterior of the reaction chamber to the first interior space of the reaction chamber; and a second channel defining a passage from the second interior space to the exterior of the reaction chamber, with the proviso that no separator is disposed between the anode and the cathode.