Thermocatalytic process for CO2-free production of hydrogen and carbon from hydrocarbons

A process for production of electricity and carbon via thermocatalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons over a carbon-based catalyst, comprising the steps of:

• A. producing hydrogen by:
• 1) thermocatalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons over a fluidized bed of carbon particulates in a reactor;
• 2) recovering a stream of hydrogen-containing gas(HCCG);
• 3) directing said stream to a gas separation unit(GSU) where pure hydrogen is separated from said stream and hydrogen-depleted gas(HDG), and a hydrogen-depleted stream containing unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons is formed;
• 4) recycling said hydrogen-depleted gas to the reactor whereby catalytically active carbon is generated on the surface of said carbon particulates;
• and
• 5) recovering pure hydrogen;
• B. continually introducing said pure hydrogen into an anode of a fuel cell;
• C. continually passing air into a cathode of the fuel cell;
• and
• D. producing electricity and recovering carbon therefrom, wherein internal activation of the carbon-based catalyst occurs by recycling said hydrogen-depleted stream containing unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons to the reactor.