Making Hydrogen Gas from Sulfur Dioxide and Water at Low Temperatures
This patent describes a method for producing hydrogen gas using an electrochemical cell that reacts gaseous sulfur dioxide and water at a relatively low temperature, generating protons that become hydrogen.
Original patent title: “Production of low temperature electrolytic hydrogen”
This patent describes a method for producing hydrogen gas using an electrochemical cell that reacts gaseous sulfur dioxide and water at a relatively low temperature, generating protons that become hydrogen. Granted to University of South Carolina in 2017 with 6 claims and 2 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2035.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a process for making hydrogen gas using an electrochemical cell. The cell has an anode, a cathode, and a membrane separating them. A voltage is applied across the anode and cathode. Gaseous sulfur dioxide (SO2) is fed to the anode, and water (H2O) is fed to the cathode. A portion of the water travels through the membrane to the anode. At the anode, the SO2 reacts with the H2O in the gas phase, with the H2O being the limiting reactant, to produce sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and hydrogen protons (H+). These protons then pass through the membrane to the cathode, where they are reduced to form hydrogen gas. For instance, this process could be used to convert sulfur dioxide, a common industrial emission, into valuable hydrogen fuel.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover hydrogen production methods that do not use an electrochemical cell with a membrane separating the anode and cathode.
- Does not cover processes where gaseous sulfur dioxide (SO2) is not fed to the anode as a reactant.
- Does not cover hydrogen production where water (H2O) is not the limiting reactant in the anode reaction.
- Does not cover methods where the specific reaction SO2 + 2H2O → H2SO4 + 2H+ + 2e− does not occur at the anode.
- Does not cover high-temperature hydrogen production, as the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → specify operation at 80° Celsius or below.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the specific electrochemical reaction at the anode, where gaseous sulfur dioxide reacts with water (which is the limiting reactant) to efficiently produce protons for hydrogen generation, all while operating at a comparatively low temperature.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Industrial hydrogen production
Fuel cell applications
Chemical manufacturing processes requiring hydrogen
Energy storage systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, and finding efficient, low-cost ways to produce it is crucial for a sustainable future. This patent focuses on a method that operates at a relatively low temperature (around 80° Celsius, as per claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 3), which could reduce the energy input and cost compared to high-temperature electrolysis methods. This could make hydrogen production more economically viable for various industrial and energy applications.
Filed
May 12, 2015
Granted
February 21, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The University of South Carolina, as the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a hub for research in electrochemical engineering and sustainable energy. While specific commercial entities directly building on this exact patent are not widely publicized given its low citation count, the broader field of low-temperature hydrogen production and SO2 utilization is an active area for research by various academic institutions and energy technology companies.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing research and development in the hydrogen economy. By proposing a method for hydrogen production at lower temperatures, it offers a potential pathway to reduce the energy demands and operational costs associated with traditional electrolysis. If successfully commercialized, such technologies could make hydrogen a more competitive and accessible energy source, particularly in industries where sulfur dioxide is a byproduct.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a process for making hydrogen gas using an electrochemical cell. The cell has an anode, a cathode, and a membrane separating them. A voltage is applied across the anode and cathode. Gaseous sulfur dioxide (SO2) is fed to the anode, and water (H2O) is fed to the cathode. A portion of the water travels through the membrane to the anode. At the anode, the SO2 reacts with the H2O in the gas phase, with the H2O being the limiting reactant, to produce sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and hydrogen protons (H+). These protons then pass through the membrane to the cathode, where they are reduced to form hydrogen gas. For instance, this process could be used to convert sulfur dioxide, a common industrial emission, into valuable hydrogen fuel.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific electrochemical reaction at the anode, where gaseous sulfur dioxide reacts with water (which is the limiting reactant) to efficiently produce protons for hydrogen generation, all while operating at a comparatively low temperature.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover hydrogen production methods that do not use an electrochemical cell with a membrane separating the anode and cathode.
- Does not cover processes where gaseous sulfur dioxide (SO2) is not fed to the anode as a reactant.
- Does not cover hydrogen production where water (H2O) is not the limiting reactant in the anode reaction.
- Does not cover methods where the specific reaction SO2 + 2H2O → H2SO4 + 2H+ + 2e− does not occur at the anode.
- Does not cover high-temperature hydrogen production, as the claims specify operation at 80° Celsius or below.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
4/20
Moderate scope
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$83K – $264K
Midpoint $165K · 8.7 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
6 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Weidner, J. W., & Holland, C. E. (2017). Making Hydrogen Gas from Sulfur Dioxide and Water at Low Temperatures (U.S. Patent No. 9,574,276). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9574276/production-of-low-temperature-electrolytic-hydrogen
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Making Hydrogen Gas from Sulfur Dioxide and Water at Low Temperatures cover?
This patent describes a method for producing hydrogen gas using an electrochemical cell that reacts gaseous sulfur dioxide and water at a relatively low temperature, generating protons that become hydrogen.
Who owns patent US 9574276?
University of South Carolina owns this patent, granted in 2017.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 12, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9574276 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, and finding efficient, low-cost ways to produce it is crucial for a sustainable future. This patent focuses on a method that operates at a relatively low temperature (around 80° Celsius, as per claim 3), which could reduce the energy input and cost compared to high-temperature electrolysis methods. This could make hydrogen production more economically viable for various industrial and energy applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover hydrogen production methods that do not use an electrochemical cell with a membrane separating the anode and cathode.
Patent monitoring