Hydrogen Water — Industrial Engineering Reference

What hydrogen water is

Hydrogen water is ordinary purified water in which molecular hydrogen (H₂) has been dissolved. The hydrogen is physically dissolved rather than chemically bonded, so the water's composition is otherwise unchanged. Concentration is the defining parameter and is stated as a dissolved hydrogen figure at a stated temperature and pressure.

Because dissolution is physical, hydrogen water is not an additive-based product. Nothing is introduced into the water except hydrogen generated from the water itself in a PEM/SPE cell.

PEM/SPE purity

A PEM (proton-exchange membrane), also described as an SPE (solid polymer electrolyte) cell, conducts protons through a solid polymer film. Alkaline electrolysers instead circulate a potassium hydroxide solution, which introduces the possibility of caustic carry-over into the product stream. In a PEM/SPE cell there is no dissolved alkali to carry over.

• ▸Feed water is deionised upstream of the stack; dissolved solids are removed before electrolysis.
• ▸The membrane separates hydrogen from oxygen at the cell, so gas streams are not mixed downstream.
• ▸The dominant residual contaminant in PEM output is moisture, not caustic aerosol.

Hydrogen water versus bathing formats

Bathing formats disperse hydrogen into a larger volume of water at low concentration and rely on contact with a body of water rather than on ingestion of a measured volume. The production hardware is comparable; the dissolution target, water volume and residence time are not. Consumer bathing documentation is published separately on HydrogenMachines.

Hydrogen water versus inhalation formats

Inhalation formats deliver hydrogen as a gas at a stated flow rate, so the dose variable is volumetric flow over time. Water formats deliver hydrogen already dissolved in a liquid, so the dose variable is concentration multiplied by volume consumed. The two are not interchangeable units and should not be compared numerically.

Hydrogen water production

Production equipment ranges from portable bottles with an integrated cell to bench machines with separate water treatment, cell and dissolution stages. In all cases output is characterised by achievable dissolved hydrogen concentration, cycle time, feed-water requirement and consumable service interval such as deionising resin replacement.

• ▸Bottle formats: integrated small cell, short cycle, concentration limited by cell area and contact time.
• ▸Machine formats: larger cell and separate dissolution stage, higher achievable concentration.
• ▸Both require feed-water treatment; untreated tap water introduces scale and dissolved solids into the cell.

Hydrogen water science

The scientific literature on dissolved hydrogen covers gas solubility and decay behaviour, measurement methods, and biological research conducted in laboratory and clinical settings. Solubility and stability are physical chemistry questions with well-established measurement methods; biological questions are studied separately and are outside the scope of this industrial reference.

Scope of statements

This page is neutral reference material describing what dissolved-hydrogen water is, how it is produced and how purity is specified. It makes no medical, health, wellness, performance, emissions or fuel-saving claim, and it is not a determination of suitability for any application.

Research and administrator references

• The Combustion Institute — Combustion research body
• Combustion and Flame (Elsevier) — Peer-reviewed combustion science
• International Journal of Hydrogen Energy — Hydrogen combustion literature
• US DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office — Hydrogen research programme
• Clean Energy Regulator — ACCU Scheme — Australian carbon credit administration