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Liquid phase processes for producing fuel in a reactor comprising the step of combining at least one oxidizable reactant with liquid water and at least one electrolyte to form a mixture and conducting a fuel-producing reaction in the presence of an electron transfer material, wherein the mixture per

Liquid phase processes for producing fuel in a reactor comprising the step of combining at least one oxidizable reactant with liquid water and at least one electrolyte to form a mixture and conducting a fuel-producing reaction in the presence of an electron transfer material, wherein the mixture permits the movement or transport of ions and electrons to facilitate the efficient production of the fuel. An alternative embodiment produces fuel in an electrochemical cell, the reaction characterized by an overall thermodynamic energy balance according to the half-cell reactions occurring at the anode and cathode. Energy generated and/or required by the system components is directed according to the thermodynamic requirements of the half-cell reactions, thereby realizing improved fuel production efficiency.

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1. A liquid phase aqueous process for producing fuel other than hydrogen in a continuous flow reactor comprising the step of combining at least one oxidizable reactant, at least one reducible reactant and at least one fluid electrolyte to form a reaction mixture having a pH, wherein the pH of the mi

1. A liquid phase aqueous process for producing fuel other than hydrogen in a continuous flow reactor comprising the step of combining at least one oxidizable reactant, at least one reducible reactant and at least one fluid electrolyte to form a reaction mixture having a pH, wherein the pH of the mixture is maintained during reaction at a constant value and conducting a fuel-producing reaction in the presence of an electron transfer material wherein: (A) the mixture permits the movement or transport of ions and electrons to facilitate the efficient production of the fuel; and(B) the oxidizable reactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, carboxylic acids, C1 to C4 alkanes including methane, aldehydes, ketones, ammonia, sulfur, sulfur compounds, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon, nitrogen, hydrocarbons, oxygenated hydrocarbons, biomass and mixtures thereof. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the mixture comprises at least one agent or electrolyte to effect a neutral or acid pH therein and wherein the acid electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, hydrohalic acid, sulfuric acid, nitrogenic acid, organic acid and mixtures thereof. 3. The process of claim 2 wherein said pH is any single pH value or range of pH values calculated according to the following equation: pH=−2+n(0.1); wherein n=an integer of from 0 to about 90 for a single pH value or two different integers of from 0 to about 90 for a range of pH values and each of the calculated values is understood to include the word “about” preceding it. 4. The process of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is a metal-containing compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, oxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, borides, phthalates and mixtures thereof or ammonium hydroxide. 5. The process of claim 4, wherein the metal of the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of Group I metals, Group II metals and mixtures thereof and the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide; alkali metal or alkaline earth metal: hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates; and mixtures thereof. 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the mixture further comprises a buffering agent selected from the group consisting of glycocoll-sodium chloride-hydrochloric acid, potassium acid phthalate-hydrochloric acid, primary potassium citrate, acetic acid-sodium acetate, potassium acid phthalate-sodium hydroxide, secondary sodium citrate, potassium acid phosphate-disodium phosphate, potassium acid phosphate-sodium hydroxide, boric acid-borax, borax, boric acid-sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate-sodium carbonate, disodium phosphate-sodium hydroxide, combinations of weak and strong acids and bases; and mixtures of the foregoing. 7. The process of claim 1, wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alcohols and mixtures thereof, and wherein the ether is selected from dimethyl ether, methylethyl ether, diethyl ether and mixtures thereof. 8. The process of claim 1, wherein the oxidizable reactant is: (a) methane, the mixture further comprises carbon dioxide as a reducible reactant and wherein the fuel produced is methanol; or (b) nitrogen and the fuel produced is a nitrogen compound; or (c) methanol and the fuel produced is methane; or (d) methane and the fuel produced is methanol. 9. The process of claim 1 conducted at a temperature selected from the group consisting of about −20° C. to about 350° C., about 0° C. to about 250° C., about 25° C. to about 200° C., about 75° C. to about 150° C.; and at a pressure sufficient for at least a portion of the water to be in the liquid phase. 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the electron transfer material is selected from the group consisting of conductive metals, precious metals, carbon, intermetallics, conductive titanium suboxides, conductive magnesium suboxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, ceramics and combinations thereof. 11. The process of claim 1 wherein the mixture further comprises at least one conductive catalyst selected from the group consisting of compounds, complexes, alloys and mixtures thereof comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of the Group VIII transition metals of the Periodic Table of the Elements and mixtures thereof; said catalyst optionally further comprising at least one metal selected from the metals of Group IB, Group IIB, Group VIIB, and mixtures thereof. 12. The process of claim 11, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of platinum, nickel, palladium, iron, cobalt, iridium, ruthenium, copper, zinc, silver, gold, rhenium and mixtures thereof. 13. The process of claim 11, wherein the catalyst is supported on or in a conductive or non-conductive material selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, silica, alumina, silica-alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, carbon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, silicon boride and mixtures thereof; said support optionally in a form selected from the group consisting of beads, powders, flakes, coatings, extruded substrates, monoliths and mixtures thereof. 14. A process for producing fuel other than hydrogen from an electrochemical reaction in a continuous flow electrochemical cell, said reaction characterized by an overall thermodynamic energy balance and half-cell reactions occurring at each of an anode and cathode present in said cell, comprising the steps of: (A) providing a continuous flow electrochemical cell comprising at least one each of an anode and a cathode; a heat source for delivering thermal energy to one of said anode and cathode (referred to as “an anodic heat source” wherein thermal energy is delivered from said anode to said cathode, “a cathodic heat source” wherein thermal energy is delivered from said cathode to said anode or, generally with reference to either said anode or cathode or both, as “an electrode heat source”); and a thermal conductor for delivering thermal energy generated by said anode or said cathode to the other of said anode and cathode;(B) providing to said electrochemical cell at least one alkaline electrolyte, water, at least one oxidizable reactant and at least one reducible reactant to form a mixture having a pH and wherein the pH of the mixture is maintained during said reaction at a constant value;(C) providing additional thermal energy to, or removing thermal energy from one or both of said anode and cathode in order to satisfy the thermal energy requirements of said electrochemical half-cell reaction occurring at said anode and said cathode; and(D) providing a voltage between said anode and said cathode, said voltage inducing said electrochemical reaction in said electrochemical cell; and wherein:(1) said thermal energy transfers in step (A) and step (C) and said voltage in step (D) are provided or removed in amounts sufficient to satisfy said overall thermodynamic energy balance; and(2) said electrochemical method produces fuel in an energy efficient manner. 15. The process of claim 14 wherein (a) said cathodic heat source is thermal energy generated by the electrochemical reaction at the cathode, and said thermal energy is delivered to the anode; or wherein (b) said anodic heat source is thermal energy generated by the electrochemical reaction at the anode, and said thermal energy is delivered to the cathode; or both (a) and (b). 16. The process of claim 14 wherein additional thermal energy not generated by said reaction is provided to (a) said anode; or (b) said cathode; or (c) both (a) and (b), independent of providing thermal energy to the overall cell. 17. The process of claim 14 wherein the pH is any single pH value or range of pH values determined by the equation pH=−2+n(0.1); wherein n=an integer of from 0 to about 125 for a single pH value or two different integers of from 1 to about 125 for a range of pH values, and wherein each of the calculated values is understood to include the word “about” preceding it. 18. The process of claim 14 conducted at a temperature selected from the group consisting of about 25° C. to about 350° C., about 50° C. to about 300° C., about 100° C. to about 250° C.; and at a pressure sufficient for at least a portion of the water to be in the liquid phase. 19. The process of claim 14, wherein the magnitude of said voltage is a value selected from the group of values consisting of: less than about 10 V; less than about 1.0 V; less than about 0.5 V; and less than about 0.1 V. 20. The process of claim 14, wherein the electrolyte is a metal-containing compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, oxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, borides, phthalates and mixtures thereof or ammonium hydroxide. 21. The process of claim 20, wherein the metal of the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of Group I metals, Group II metals and mixtures thereof and the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide; alkali metal or alkaline earth metal: hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates; and mixtures thereof. 22. The process of claim 14, wherein said mixture comprises a buffering agent selected from the group consisting of glycocoll-sodium chloride-hydrochloric acid, potassium acid phthalate-hydrochloric acid, primary potassium citrate, acetic acid-sodium acetate, potassium acid phthalate-sodium hydroxide, secondary sodium citrate, potassium acid phosphate-disodium phosphate, potassium acid phosphate-sodium hydroxide, boric acid-borax, borax, boric acid-sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate-sodium carbonate, disodium phosphate-sodium hydroxide, combinations of weak and strong acids and bases; and mixtures of the foregoing. 23. The process of claim 14, wherein the oxidizable reactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, carboxylic acids, C1 to C4 alkanes including methane, aldehydes, ketones, ammonia, nitrogen, sulfur, sulfur compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, hydrocarbons, oxygenated hydrocarbons, biomass and mixtures thereof. 24. The process of claim 23, wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alcohols and mixtures thereof, and wherein the ether is selected from dimethyl ether, methylethyl ether, diethyl ether and mixtures thereof. 25. The process of claim 23, wherein the oxidizable reactant is: (a) methane, the mixture further comprises carbon dioxide as a reducible reactant and where the fuel produced is methanol; or (b) nitrogen and the fuel produced is a nitrogen compound; or (c) methanol and the fuel produced is methane; or (d) methane and the fuel produced is methanol. 26. The process of claim 23 wherein the oxidizable reactant is sulfur in either (1) monoclinic form and the process is conducted at a temperature of greater than about 95° C. to less than about 430° C.; or (2) rhombic form and the process is conducted at a temperature of greater than about 113° C. to less than about 430° C. 27. The process of claim 1, wherein said reactor is a stack cell reactor. 28. The process of claim 1, wherein said continuous-flow reactor is selected from the group consisting of continuous-stirred tank reactors, tubular reactors and stack cell reactors, wherein said reactor provides a configuration for reactants and ionic conductive electrolyte to be pumped into said reactor at suitable flow rates and provides for synthesized product and by-product to flow out of said reactor. 29. The process of claim 1, further comprising addition of energy to said reactor in a form selected from the group consisting of electricity, heat, pressure, sonic energy, ultrasonic energy, piezoelectric energy, radiation, magnetic induction and combinations thereof. 30. The process of claim 14, wherein said electrochemical cell further comprises a configuration for reactants and ionic conductive electrolyte to be pumped into said reactor at suitable flow rate and provides for synthesized product and by-product to flow out of said reactor. 31. The process of claim 14, wherein said continuous-flow reactor is selected from the group consisting of continuous-stirred tank reactors, tubular reactors and stack cell reactors, and wherein said reactor provides a configuration for reactants and said electrolyte to be pumped into said reactor at suitable flow rates and provides for synthesized product and by-product to flow out of said reactor. 32. A process for producing fuel other than hydrogen from an electrochemical reaction in a continuous flow electrochemical cell, said reaction characterized by an overall thermodynamic energy balance and half-cell reactions occurring at each of an anode and cathode present in said cell, comprising the steps of: (A) providing a continuous flow electrochemical cell comprising at least one each of an anode and a cathode; a heat source for delivering thermal energy to one of said anode and cathode (referred to as “an anodic heat source” wherein thermal energy is delivered from said anode to said cathode, “a cathodic heat source” wherein thermal energy is delivered from said cathode to said anode or, generally with reference to either said anode or cathode or both, as “an electrode heat source”); and a thermal conductor for delivering thermal energy generated by said anode or said cathode to the other of said anode and cathode;(B) providing to said electrochemical cell at least one alkaline electrolyte, water, at least one oxidizable reactant and at least one reducible reactant to form a mixture having a pH and wherein the pH of the mixture is maintained during said reaction at a constant value;(C) providing additional thermal energy to, or removing thermal energy from one or both of said anode and cathode in order to satisfy the thermal energy requirements of said electrochemical half-cell reaction occurring at said anode and said cathode; and(D) providing a voltage between said anode and said cathode, said voltage inducing said electrochemical reaction in said electrochemical cell; and wherein:(1) said thermal energy transfers in step (A) and step (C) and said voltage in step (D) are provided or removed in amounts sufficient to satisfy said overall thermodynamic energy balance;(2) the oxidizable reactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, carboxylic acids, C1 to C4 alkanes including methane, aldehydes, ketones, ammonia, nitrogen, sulfur, sulfur compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, hydrocarbons, oxygenated hydrocarbons, biomass and mixtures thereof; and(3) said electrochemical method produces fuel in an energy efficient manner. 33. The process of claim 32 wherein (a) said cathodic heat source is thermal energy generated by the electrochemical reaction at the cathode, and said thermal energy is delivered to the anode; or wherein (b) said anodic heat source is thermal energy generated by the electrochemical reaction at the anode, and said thermal energy is delivered to the cathode; or both (a) and (b). 34. The process of claim 32 wherein additional thermal energy not generated by said reaction is provided to (a) said anode; or (b) said cathode; or (c) both (a) and (b), independent of providing thermal energy to the overall cell. 35. The process of claim 32, wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alcohols and mixtures thereof, and wherein the ether is selected from dimethyl ether, methylethyl ether, diethyl ether and mixtures thereof. 36. The process of claim 32, wherein the oxidizable reactant is: (a) methane, the mixture further comprises carbon dioxide as a reducible reactant and where the fuel produced is methanol; or (b) nitrogen and the fuel produced is a nitrogen compound; or (c) methanol and the fuel produced is methane; or (d) methane and the fuel produced is methanol. 37. The process of claim 32 wherein the oxidizable reactant is sulfur in either (1) monoclinic form and the process is conducted at a temperature of greater than about 95° C. to less than about 430° C.; or (2) rhombic form and the process is conducted at a temperature of greater than about 113° C. to less than about 430° C.