Thermochemical decomposition of water based on reactions of chromium and barium compounds.

A potentially useful thermochemical cycle developed for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water consists of three chemical reactions that take place in the temperature range from 400 degrees to 1200 degrees K. The oxidation and reduction of chromium compounds by barium hydroxide and the hydrolytic disproportionation of barium chromate(IV) and barium chromate(V), the reactions which constitute the proposed cycle, have been demonstrated.