Abstract: A closed-cycle multi-step thermochemical process is described for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water. The disclosed process utilizes auxiliary compounds of the system iron-chlorine. By using the following two basic process steps:A. reacting an iron oxide with hydrogen chloride or a mixture of hydrogen chloride and chlorine to form iron (II) chloride or iron (III) chloride andB. reacting iron or iron (II) oxide with water to form iron (II) oxide or iron (II) (III) oxideIt is possible to employ a variety of additional steps so that the sum total of the reaction steps consume water, produce hydrogen and oxygen and regenerate the desired starting materials within the closed system.

Abstract: A method of obtaining hydrogen from water in a multi-stage circulatory process avoids the need to use solid inorganic salts as auxiliary products by using only gases and liquids in the reaction stages. Carbon monoxide is reacted catalytically with steam producing carbon dioxide and hydrogen; the carbon dioxide is reacted with steam and sulphur dioxide to give sulphuric acid and carbon monoxide; the sulphuric acid is split into sulphur trioxide and steam; the sulphur trioxide is dissociated into oxygen and sulphur dixoide. The CO and SO.sub.2 are fed back into the process, and hydrogen and oxygen obtained as end products.