# Making Chemicals from Carbon Dioxide and Steam Using Electricity > This patent describes a process that uses electricity to split steam and then reacts the resulting hydrogen with carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide to create various carbon-based compounds, like fuels or plastics. - **Patent:** US 20110132770 - **Original title:** Process for producing compounds of the cxhyoz type by reduction of carbon dioxide (co2) and/or carbon monoxide (co) - **Owner:** Areva SA - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 22 - **Field:** energy, chemical_manufacturing, environmental_technology, cleantech, materials ## What it does This process uses an electrolyzer with a special proton-conducting membrane to convert steam and carbon gases into useful chemicals. First, steam is injected under pressure into the anode compartment (Claim 1). Water in the steam is oxidized at the anode, creating protonated species that travel through the proton-conducting membrane (Claim 1). These species are then reduced at the cathode surface, forming reactive hydrogen atoms (Claim 1). Simultaneously, carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or carbon monoxide (CO) are introduced under pressure into the cathode compartment (Claim 1). The reactive hydrogen atoms then reduce the CO2 and/or CO, forming compounds of the CxHyOz type, which are organic chemicals like hydrocarbons or oxygenates (Claim 1). For example, this system could take waste CO2 and steam, and using electricity, convert them into a liquid fuel such as methanol or ethanol. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover electrolysis processes that do not use a proton-conducting membrane to separate the anode and cathode compartments. - Does not cover systems that produce only hydrogen gas without also reducing carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide into CxHyOz compounds. - Does not cover processes where carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide are reduced by hydrogen that was not generated directly from steam electrolysis within the same system. - Does not cover CO2/CO reduction methods that operate outside the specified temperature range of 200°C to 800°C (Claim 9) or pressure ranges for steam and CO2/CO (Claims 6, 8). - Does not cover the direct electrochemical reduction of CO2/CO without an intermediate reactive hydrogen step from steam. ## The clever bit The patent's innovation is the integrated system that uses a proton-conducting membrane to efficiently generate reactive hydrogen atoms from steam, and then immediately uses these atoms to reduce carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide within the same cathode compartment to form complex carbon compounds. This direct, in-situ conversion avoids the need to produce and store hydrogen separately, and allows for control over the final product type by adjusting electrical settings (Claim 2). ## Real-world examples 1. Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) systems 2. Synthetic fuel production (e-fuels) 3. Chemical feedstock production from waste CO2 4. Power-to-X technologies ## Why it matters This technology aims to convert greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into valuable chemicals or fuels. This approach offers a way to reduce carbon emissions by recycling carbon from industrial processes or the atmosphere. It could also provide a sustainable method for producing chemicals and energy carriers, lessening reliance on fossil resources. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Making Chemicals from Carbon Dioxide and Steam Using Electricity cover? This patent describes a process that uses electricity to split steam and then reacts the resulting hydrogen with carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide to create various carbon-based compounds, like fuels or plastics. ### Who owns patent US 20110132770? This patent is owned by Areva SA. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on May 15, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 20110132770 cited by? This patent has been cited by 22 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology aims to convert greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into valuable chemicals or fuels. This approach offers a way to reduce carbon emissions by recycling carbon from industrial processes or the atmosphere. It could also provide a sustainable method for producing chemicals and energy carriers, lessening reliance on fossil resources. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover electrolysis processes that do not use a proton-conducting membrane to separate the anode and cathode compartments. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20110132770/process-for-producing-compounds-of-the-cxhyoz-type-by-reduction-of-carbon-dioxid **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20110132770 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Make Hydrogen Gas and Cupric Chloride Using an Electrolysis Cell](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8636880/electrolysis-cell-for-the-conversion-of-cuprous-chloride-in-hydrochloric-acid-to) — This patent describes an electrochemical cell that uses cuprous chloride in hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas and cupric chloride, separated by a special membrane. - [Capturing Carbon Dioxide While Making Electricity with Hydrogen and Solar](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12327854/apparatuses-and-methods-for-carbon-dioxide-capturing-and-electrical-energy-produ) — This patent describes an integrated system that captures carbon dioxide from the air or industrial exhaust while simultaneously generating clean electricity using a hydrogen gas turbine powered by solar-generated hydrogen and oxygen, all without burning fossil fuels. - [Making Caustic Soda with Less Salt Using a Special Electrolysis Cell](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9181624/method-of-electrolysis-employing-two-chamber-ion-exchange-membrane-electrolytic-) — This patent describes a method to make purer caustic soda and chlorine gas using a two-chamber electrolysis cell with a gas diffusion electrode by carefully controlling pressure differences. - [Making Iron More Efficiently and Generating Power with Oxygen](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8133298/blast-furnace-iron-production-with-integrated-power-generation) — This patent describes an integrated system that uses extra oxygen in a blast furnace to make iron more efficiently, while also capturing the furnace's waste gases to generate electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. - [Boosting Fuel Cell Power for Vehicles Using Oxygen Injection](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5346778/electrochemical-load-management-system-for-transportation-applications) — A system that boosts a vehicle's fuel cell power by injecting pure oxygen into the air supply when the engine needs extra energy.