Abstract: A thermochemical cycle for the recovery of hydrogen and sulfur by splitting hydrogen sulfide, based upon initial reactions between the hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. The cycle exists in three versions, two utilizing the initial reaction of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioixide. One of these versions utilizes high temperature for the initial step for production of carbon monoxide for use in the shift reaction to produce hydrogen. The other conducts the initial step of moderate temperature in the presence of a desiccant to increase the yields of carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide, which are subsequently subjected to high temperature reactions to produce the carbon monoxide for the shift reaction.

Abstract: How to produce hydrogen from water was a problem addressed by this invention. The solution employs a combined electrolytical-thermochemical sulfuric acid process. Additionally, high purity sulfuric acid can be produced in the process.Water and SO.sub.2 react in electrolyzer (12) so that hydrogen is produced at the cathode and sulfuric acid is produced at the anode. Then the sulfuric acid is reacted with a particular compound M.sub.r X.sub.s so as to form at least one water insoluble sulfate and at least one water insoluble oxide of molybdenum, tungsten, or boron. Water is removed by filtration; and the sulfate is decomposed in the presence of the oxide in sulfate decomposition zone (21), thus forming SO.sub.3 and reforming M.sub.r X.sub.s. The M.sub.r X.sub.s is recycled to sulfate formation zone (16). If desired, the SO.sub.3 can be decomposed to SO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 ; and the SO.sub.2 can be recycled to electrolyzer (12) to provide a cycle for producing hydrogen.