Methods of Making Hydrogen Water

Hydrogen Infusion Machines

These units are the newest iteration of hydrogen water devices on the market. These devices are unique, as they are the first real attempt to produce devices designed for dissolving higher levels of molecular hydrogen in water without affecting/elevating the pH of the water. These units use PEM/SPE (proton exchange membrane, solid polymer electrolyte) technology, which allows for the device to produce H2 no matter the source water conditions (RO, tap, well, high-TDS, low-TDS, etc).  These units are designed for one reason or purpose: consuming and using hydrogenated water.

Acronyms:

HIM: Hydrogen infusion machine
HIT: Hydrogen infusion technology
PEM: Proton exchange membrane/ Polymer electrolyte membrane
SPE: Solid polymer electrolyte

Machine Types: – Hydrogen inhalation Machine

Hydrogen inhalation machines produce H2 from the process of electrolysis and mix H2 with air, keeping the H2 concentration under 4%. This ensures the safety of the person receiving treatment, as H2 under 4% is non-explosive. This application has shown great benefit in the scientific literature, as it allows larger amounts of H2 gas to enter the blood stream to be readily distributed throughout the body. They can also be used to bubble the excess H2 produced through water while the inhalation is taking place thus infusing H2 into the water at the same time. They are most effective as they provide H2 through inhalation and ingestion providing greater benefits to more of the body.

Machine Types: – Portable Hydrogen Water Generators

Portable hydrogen water generators are handheld electrolysis devices. These devices can use either the standard ionizer technology (producing H2 and increasing pH as a byproduct) or the new HIM/HIT technology (produces H2, does not increase pH). These devices are becoming very popular on the market today. Depending on the manufacture and quality of the device, they can produce .4 to 1+ ppm generally in 8 to 16 oz (250-500ml) in a relatively short matter of time (5- 10 mins).

Advantages of H2 water portables:

• Simple to use
• Produces H2 water anywhere with filtered water or bottled water
• HIM/HIT versions will not influence the taste of the water, or change pH. (This does not apply for standard ERW ones. pH can influence taste and some individuals are pH sensitive)
• Charges similar to smartphone (USB, micro USB, AC wall adaptor)
• Convenient; produces H2 water within 5 mins

There are multiple designs of HIM/HIT units on the market, however, they all have similarities.

Characteristics:

They use PEMs: These membranes are synthetic polymers the are design to only transfer protons across the membrane and conduct electricity. PEMs have outstanding performance qualities

• Not dependent on water conductivity to produce H2. (creates H2 water from RO, low-TDS, high-TDS waters)
• Not prone to scaling due to the fact the device does not increase pH, like ionizers
• More reliable in its ability to produce and maintain hydrogen concentration than ionizers
• Normally only has one source of water, no acidic water flow, like ionizers
• Typically has a DU (dissolver unit). This is a section within the water specifically designed for dissolving the hydrogen gas into solution; due to the fact H2 has low solubility in water

HIM/HIT generally produces between .8 to 1.5 ppm of dissolved molecular hydrogen (remember 1.6 ppm is the highest at atmospheric level). These types of devices that utilize this type of technology (PEM/SPE), is improving rapidly, which will result in greater dissolved hydrogen concentrations and efficiency of these units

Ingestible Tablets

Magnesium

Ingestible Mg H2 tablets work off the same principle of solubilized H2 Mg tablets. The contents/reactants of the tablets will produce H2 gas once it comes in contact with an aqueous solution or stomach acid.¹

Mg + 2H2O => H2 + Mg(OH)2

Mg + 2HCl => MgCl2 + H2

The H2 tablets use an elemental/metallic form of magnesium (Mg) which reacts with water to form H2 (molecular hydrogen) and MgOH (magnesium hydroxide). MgOH (magnesium hydroxide) dissociates (breaks down) 100% in the human body; leaving OH- (hydroxide) and ionic Mg (Mg++, Mg ion), the essential form of magnesium utilized by the human body. A large percentage individuals in the Australia are deficient in Mg as well as other electrolytes. Most H2 tablets provide 55 milligrams of Mg per tablet, so it is a great Mg supplement.

H2 tablet’s H2 concentration depends on multiple factors ( the type of bottle use, allowance of reaction time, temperature, type of H2 (Mg) tablet, etc), normally producing 1+ ppm in 16 oz (500ml) within 10-15min

Calcium

Some ingestible H2 tablets use metallic calcium (Ca) to produce H2. The contents/reactants of the tablets will produce H2 gas once it comes is contact with an aqueous solution or stomach acid.

Ca + 2H2O => Ca(OH)2 + H2

Ca + 2HCl => CaCl2 + H2

This method might not be as effective as solubilized H2 (Mg) tablets, which get directly into the bloodstream via water absorption through the small intestine into the portal vein. When ingestible H2 tablets are consumed the H2 gas that is generated in the stomach has no direct path to travel to get into the blood stream. H2 will have to diffuse through the tissue of the stomach first before being push throughout the circulatory system.

Water Ionizers

Water Electrolysis: Decomposition of water molecules via electrical current

Electrolysis Definition: Chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.

During the process of electrolysis, two reactions MUST occur simultaneously, one at the cathode (negative) and one at the anode (positive)

These pairs of reactions are called “Redox” reactions.

Reduction: The addition of electrons from the power supply occurs at the cathode

Oxidation: The removal of electrons back to the power supply occurs at the anode.

Within water ionizers, the cathode and anode chambers are isolated from each other, separated by an ionic membrane, which only allowing electrons to pass. Water does not start with dissolved hydrogen gas (H2), it is produced by electrolysis.

This type of water appears in scientific literature as: Electrolyzed reduced water (ERW), Hydrogen-rich water, Electrolyzed Water, Alkaline reduced water (ARW), Reduced Water.

Although the production of hydrogen gas during electrolysis is relatively easy, the producing of dissolved hydrogen in water, at therapeutic concentrations is more of a technical design challenge for water ionizers. There are many contributors to dissolved H2 production in ionizers, including the surface morphology (texture) of the plates, amount of water flow, speed of water flow, direction of water flow over the plates, amount of voltage applied (current density), the type of voltage applied (DC or pulsed), distance of the plates (gap), Mesh/solid plates (mesh appears to be superior to solid as it gives the current a path to travel), etc. Power supply is important but it is not the only factor. The best units on the market should be focused and designed to produce constantly high levels of dissolved H2 under a 9.5 pH, into water. The devices should have minimal maintenance requirements and maintain the dissolved H2 concentration for the duration of the lifespan of the unit.

Water ionizers H2 concentration: (.1 to 1+ ppm) depending on a multitude of factors so it is best to measure it yourself.

Packaged H2 Water

Pouches and/or Canned

Hydrogen water is now being canned or package into aluminum pouches/cans. These are typically 8 to 16oz of water containing .5 to 2 ppm of hydrogen gas. They are convenient and can be an effective way of consuming H2. Although this is not the cheapest route for consuming H2 daily.