Reply #4: There's incredibly little out there, but here's what I was looking at.

[napoleon_in_rags]

The process I was reading about is called SOHIO ammoxidation
http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=924&content_id=WPCP_007593&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=2d513279-8b8c-419f-99d0-0f02ccdf405a
Its exothermic:
A key innovation was the successful development of a fluidized bed catalyst to allow for removal of the heat produced by the ammoxidation reaction.
And the chemical equation is from wikipedia
CH3CH=CH2 + 3/2 O2 + NH3 → NCCH=CH2 + 3 H2O
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammoxidation (No CO2 that equation)
The chemical in the output other than water is Acrylonitrile, which is later heated to make carbon fiber, so that stuff is where the carbon resides, not the atmosphere. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_fiber

Anyway, none if it is that is any kind of solution in itself, but I thought there must be some FUNDAMENTAL law of nature that states that hydrocarbon oxidation (combustion of gasoline, propane, the rest) MUST produce CO2 into the atmosphere to be exothermic and turn a motor. This equation shows me a hint that this isn't the case. oxidation of hydrocarbons can produce heat, and SOLID CARBON PRODUCTS instead of CO2. But that's where the trail ends, I can't find out more. If I'm wrong I want to know why, or if there's research I want to read about it, because like I said its a total environmental holy grail.