What Is a Hydrogen Water Bottle and How Does It Work?

A hydrogen water bottle is a portable bottle with a small electrolysis unit in its base that adds hydrogen gas (H₂) to the water inside. You fill it, press a button, and a few minutes later the water carries dissolved hydrogen. The NuRich Echo Flask does this in about 3 minutes, holds 420 ml and is rechargeable.

This article explains how the bottle works. It is not medical advice.

What "hydrogen water" means

Hydrogen water is plain water with extra hydrogen gas dissolved in it. It is not a flavor or an additive. Hydrogen is the smallest molecule there is, so it also leaves the water once the bottle is open. That is why a hydrogen water bottle makes it fresh, right before you drink it.

How a hydrogen water bottle works: electrolysis

The U.S. Department of Energy defines electrolysis as "the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen" (U.S. DOE, Hydrogen Production: Electrolysis). A hydrogen water bottle uses the same idea on a very small scale, powered by its rechargeable battery.

What SPE/PEM means

The Echo Flask uses SPE/PEM technology: a solid polymer electrolyte, also called a proton exchange membrane. According to the DOE, in a PEM electrolyzer:

1. At one side of the membrane (the anode), electricity splits water into oxygen, hydrogen ions and electrons.
2. The solid membrane lets only the hydrogen ions pass through to the other side.
3. At the other side (the cathode), those ions join with electrons and form hydrogen gas.

In the bottle, that hydrogen gas rises into the water above the base. That is the stream of tiny bubbles you see during a cycle.

How to use the Echo Flask, step by step

1. Charge it. The Echo Flask is USB-rechargeable.
2. Fill it. It holds 420 ml. The listing says it works with purified, distilled and tap water.
3. Press the button. It is a one-button bottle.
4. Wait about 3 minutes while the cycle runs.
5. Drink it fresh. Hydrogen escapes once the water sits open, so drink it soon after the cycle.

To keep the bottle clean between uses, read Hydrogen Water Bottle Care: How to Clean and Maintain Your NuRich Echo Flask. If you travel with it, see Echo Flask on the Go: Hydrogen Water Away From an Outlet.

Hydrogen water bottle vs. alkaline water

They are not the same thing. Alkaline water is about pH. A hydrogen water bottle does not try to change the pH: it adds dissolved hydrogen gas to the water.

Is a hydrogen water bottle right for you?

If you already carry water all day and like the idea of making hydrogen water at home, at work or while traveling, a portable bottle is a simple way to do it. For more on who usually picks one, read Echo Flask and Hydrogen Water: Who Is It Actually For?

Shop the hydrogen water bottle

See the NuRich Echo Flask hydrogen water bottle: about 3 minutes per cycle, 420 ml, rechargeable, SPE/PEM.

FAQ

How does a hydrogen water bottle work?

It uses electrolysis: a small unit in the base uses electricity to split water, and the hydrogen gas it makes dissolves into the water in the bottle.

How long does it take to make hydrogen water?

The NuRich Echo Flask runs a cycle in about 3 minutes.

What does SPE/PEM mean on a hydrogen water bottle?

SPE/PEM stands for solid polymer electrolyte / proton exchange membrane. It is a solid membrane that lets only hydrogen ions pass through during electrolysis.

What water can I use in a hydrogen water bottle?

The Echo Flask listing says it works with purified, distilled and tap water.

Is a hydrogen water bottle the same as an alkaline water bottle?

No. Alkaline water is about pH. A hydrogen water bottle adds dissolved hydrogen gas to the water.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy — Hydrogen Production: Electrolysis

Written by the NuRich team in Winder, GA. We cite primary sources and only state what's on our product listings.