An electrocatalytic method for the chemical addition of hydrogen to a hydrocarbon compound is proposed. In the method, hydrogen formed by water electrolysis at the counter electrode of an electrochemical cell, is delivered via conduction through a proton-conducting solid electrolyte. The working electrode of the cell serves as a hydroprocessing catalyst and therefore promotes the reaction of the hydrogen with the hydrocarbon. The ability of beta(beta)-Al2O3 to both perform as a catalyst and to conduct hydrogen is demonstrated. It was found that liquid water must be in contact with the solid for conduction to occur at practical rates. In addition, it was shown that ion-exchange of the alkali metal ion with the protonated cation (e.g., H3O+) could be performed in situ. Finally, a beta"/beta-Al2O3 designed to develop H3O+-beta"-Al2O3 was found to be far less susceptible to mechanical degradation than a purer, commercially prepared Na+-beta"-Al2O3.