TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The oxidizable organic substance and the alkaline electrolyte are reacted in the presence of water. The contacted electrolyte is substantially in the form of at least one bicarbonate compound and regeneration is achieved by further contacting the at least one bicarbonate compound with steam. The method is conducted at 150 - 350degreesC (preferably 200 - 250degreesC) and at a pressure of 1 - 1000 (preferably 10 - 100) atmosphere. The method additionally comprises separating hydrogen formed during the contacting step from reaction by-products such as CO2. The separation is an absorption step. The absorption involves contacting the hydrogen and CO2 with an aqueous solution comprising an absorbing amount of a compound selected from at least one alkali metal carbonate and/or alkaline earth metal carbonate, at 100 - 350degreesC and thus reactively absorbing the CO2 and producing a metal bicarbonate as a further byproduct; and additionally involves use of at least one promoting agent selected from amine, borate, arsenate, glycine and/or piperazine. The electrolyte is regenerated in a reactor by contacting the electrolyte composition with steam, where the mixture additionally comprises the at least one promoting agent. The regeneration is conducted at a pressure of 0.3 - 200 atm. The metal bicarbonate-containing compositions of both the absorption step and the hydrogen production step are contacted with steam in a reactor to regenerate the metal carbonate. The method is conducted continuously. Alternatively the method involves generating the hydrogen gas in a reactor having a top and bottom, where the at least one oxidizable organic substance is introduced into the reactor at a point substantially midway between the top and bottom; preparing metal bicarbonate composition by introducing the alkaline electrolyte solution comprising at least one metal carbonate into the reactor at a point substantially at the top of the reactor such that the metal carbonate solution and the hydrogen gas flow substantially countercurrent to one another, thus resulting in the production of at least one metal bicarbonate composition; and regenerating the at least one metal bicarbonate composition. The bicarbonate rich stream is reduced in pressure compared to the pressure in the reactor and introduced into a second reactor where it is contacted with steam, thus producing carbon dioxide and substantially regenerating the alkaline electrolyte. The regenerated alkaline electrolyte is introduced into the hydrogen generating reactor. The regeneration is conducted at 85 - 200 (preferably 150 - 170, especially 85 - 100)degreesC. Preferred Components: The catalyst is selected from compounds, complexes and/or alloys comprising at least one metal selected from Group VIII transition metals (preferably platinum, nickel, palladium, iron, cobalt, iridium and/or ruthenium). The catalyst further comprises at least one metal selected from Group IB, Group IIB and/or Group VIIB (preferably copper, zinc, ruthenium and silver). The catalyst is supported on or in a conductive or non-conductive material selected from metals, metal oxides, silica, alumina, silica-alumina, zirconia, titania, ceria, carbon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride and/or silicon boride. The support is in a form of bead, powder, coatings extended substrate and/or monolith. The alkaline electrolyte is selected from ammonium hydroxide and/or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide, carbonate or bicarbonates (preferably metal hydroxide, carbonate and/or bicarbonate). The metal of the alkaline electrolyte is alkali metal or alkali earth metal (preferably sodium, lithium, potassium, cesium and rubidium).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The oxygenated hydrocarbon is saccharide, cellulose, starch, sugar, alcohol, ether, carboxylic acid, aldehyde, ketone and/or biomass. The saccharide is monosaccharide, disaccharide, oligosaccharide and/or polysaccharide. The alcohol is 1-6C alcohols (preferably methanol and/or ethanol; especially methanol). The ether is dimethyl ether, methylethyl ether and/or diethyl ether (preferably dimethyl ether). The oxidizable reactant is a mixture of methanol and dimethyl ether.