{
  "patent_number": "US 20090045073",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How to Make Hydrogen Gas Using Sulfur Dioxide and Electricity",
  "original_title": "Electrolysis cell comprising sulfur dioxide-depolarized anode and method of using the same in hydrogen generation",
  "summary": "This patent describes a special kind of electrolysis cell that uses sulfur dioxide gas at one electrode to help produce hydrogen gas more efficiently.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes an electrolysis cell designed to generate molecular hydrogen (H2) by oxidizing sulfur dioxide (SO2). The cell includes a frame (claim 1a) and a separator, such as a proton exchange membrane (PEM) (claim 3), which divides the cell into chambers. An anode, which is a fluid diffusion electrode (claim 1c, claim 4), is placed away from the separator's anodic side, creating a first chamber filled with an electrolytic solution, such as aqueous sulfuric acid (claim 6). A cathode is connected to the separator's cathodic side (claim 1e). In operation, gaseous sulfur dioxide is fed to the anode, where it reacts, while hydrogen gas is produced at the cathode. This process uses sulfur dioxide to reduce the overall energy required for hydrogen production compared to just splitting water.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Electrolysis cells that generate hydrogen without oxidizing sulfur dioxide at the anode.",
    "Systems where the anode is not a fluid diffusion electrode (e.g., a solid metal plate electrode not designed for gas or liquid reactants).",
    "Hydrogen generation methods that do not use an ionically-conductive separator, such as a proton exchange membrane.",
    "Electrolysis cells where the anode and cathode do not define specific chambers for sulfur dioxide, electrolyte, and hydrogen.",
    "Methods of hydrogen production that rely solely on water splitting without a depolarizing agent."
  ],
  "filed": "2008-08-01",
  "granted": null,
  "expires": "2028-08-01",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Giner Electrochemical Systems",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/giner-electrochemical-systems",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Simon G. Stone",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/simon-g-stone"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lawrence J. Gestaut",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/lawrence-j-gestaut"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 9,
  "tags": [
    "chemical_manufacturing",
    "energy",
    "telecommunications",
    "materials"
  ],
  "abstract": "Electrolysis cell and method of using the same in hydrogen generation. According to one embodiment, the electrolysis cell includes a frame having an interior. A proton exchange membrane (PEM) is disposed within the frame to divide the interior into two chambers. An anode in the form of a gas diffusion electrode is disposed within the interior of the frame and is spaced apart from the PEM, the space between the anode and the PEM being filled with an aqueous sulfuric acid. A cathode is disposed within the interior of the frame and is ionically coupled to the PEM. In use, gaseous sulfur dioxide is delivered to the side of the anode facing away from the sulfuric acid solution, and a current is supplied to the electrolysis cell. Consequently, sulfur dioxide is oxidized at the anode, and molecular hydrogen is generated at the cathode.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20090045073/electrolysis-cell-comprising-sulfur-dioxide-depolarized-anode-and-method-of-usin",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20090045073/electrolysis-cell-comprising-sulfur-dioxide-depolarized-anode-and-method-of-usin/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090045073",
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}