Patent ID: 8038744

Claim:
A process for combusting hydrocarbon feedstock streams, recovering the water and carbon dioxide produced during combustion, and generating oxygen and hydrogen gases from the recovered water, the process comprising the steps of: reacting a hydrocarbon feedstock-containing stream with a stream of substantially pure oxygen in a combustion chamber under conditions producing a reaction product stream comprising carbon dioxide and water vapor; removing particulate matter from the reaction product stream; separating the reaction product stream into a recycle stream and an intermediate product stream; sending the recycle stream back into the combustion chamber after first passing the recycle stream through activated carbon; scrubbing the intermediate product stream to neutralize and remove acidic impurities; condensing water vapor from the intermediate product stream; refrigerating the intermediate product stream to condense any remaining water and to liquefy the carbon dioxide; generating steam from the condensed water; electrolyzing the steam to produce oxygen and hydrogen gases; and separating the oxygen and hydrogen gases.