PEM/SPE electrolysis, in plain language.
Every machine in the range runs on the same core technology: a Solid Polymer Electrolyte / Proton Exchange Membrane stack that splits purified water into hydrogen and oxygen at the proton level, then keeps the two streams physically separated all the way to the outlet.
This page is the long version. If you want the engineering picture — how the membrane works, what separates a good stack from a poor one, how PEM compares to alkaline electrolysis, what each certification actually proves, and how the machines are manufactured — it is all here.
Inside a single PEM cell.
A PEM cell is a sandwich: a catalyst-coated anode, a thin proton-conducting polymer membrane, and a catalyst-coated cathode. Apply a DC voltage and water splits — but only the proton (H⁺) is small enough to cross the membrane. Electrons travel the external circuit. Hydrogen rebuilds itself on the cathode side. Oxygen is left behind on the anode side. The two gases never mix inside the stack.
2H₂O → O₂ + 4H⁺ + 4e⁻
Water gives up oxygen and four protons. The protons enter the membrane; the electrons leave via the external circuit.
4H⁺ + 4e⁻ → 2H₂
Protons meet electrons and reform as molecular hydrogen — pure, dry, and ready to inhale or dissolve into bathing water.
What to look for in a PEM stack — and why ours meets that bar.
Two machines can both claim "PEM" on the box and behave nothing alike. The difference is in the membrane chemistry, the catalyst loading, how the bipolar plates are made, and how aggressively the unit is current-density rated. Here is the checklist a knowledgeable buyer should run before paying for any PEM machine.
PEM/SPE vs the alternatives.
Three broad approaches exist to generate hydrogen at consumer scale. They are not equivalent. Here is the honest engineering comparison.
| Attribute | PEM / SPE (our stack) | Alkaline electrolysis | Magnesium-rod / "hydrogen sticks" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolyte | Solid polymer (PFSA) membrane — no liquid KOH | Liquid potassium hydroxide (KOH) — caustic | Magnesium metal reacting with water |
| Gas separation | Physical — H₂ and O₂ on opposite sides of membrane | Diaphragm only — measurable crossover | None — H₂ liberated directly into water, often with side products |
| H₂ purity at outlet | ≥ 99.99% | ~ 99.5–99.8% (with diaphragm), worse on cheap units | Variable, often with H₂ + Mg(OH)₂ + impurities |
| Response time | Seconds — flow is stable from start of session | Minutes — needs warm-up to reach rated purity | Slow leach; concentration not controllable |
| Maintenance | Distilled water only; membrane swap years out | KOH top-ups, electrode cleaning, gasket seals | Rod replacement, scaling, byproducts in water |
| Safety | Hardware interlocks; gases stay separated; no caustic fluid | Caustic KOH leak risk; flammable if crossover spikes | Uncontrolled reaction; impurities can be ingested |
| Suited to daily inhalation | Yes — designed for it | Industrial scale; rarely consumer-safe | No — purity and dose are not controllable |
Alkaline electrolysis is a credible industrial technology at megawatt scale; we do not sell it for consumer hydrogen wellness because the safety and purity envelope is wrong for the use case. Magnesium-rod "hydrogen water" sticks are not electrolysis — they are a metal-water reaction with no dose control.
Hydrogen and oxygen — the natural 2:1 split.
Water electrolysis splits H₂O into hydrogen and oxygen in a fixed 2:1 molecular ratio (2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂). The PEM membrane keeps the two gas streams physically separated as they leave the stack — so one outlet delivers pure hydrogen, the other pure oxygen. The user decides whether to breathe hydrogen alone, or recombine the two streams at the cannula using the included Y connector for the full combined hydrogen–oxygen flow.
Because the membrane is intolerant of dissolved minerals, only distilled or deionised water belongs in the reservoir — see what water to use in a hydrogen inhaler for the full guide.
What each certification actually proves.
Certification logos on a product page are easy to print. The substance is in the test reports behind them. Here is what every mark on our machines actually represents — and what it does not.
What it is — United States Federal Communications Commission limit on unintentional radio-frequency emissions from consumer electronics.
What it proves — Tested in an accredited anechoic chamber (ours: Rohde & Schwarz-equipped facility, May 2025) and confirmed not to exceed the EMI limits that would interfere with nearby radios, Wi-Fi, or medical telemetry equipment.
What it does not — FCC is not a medical clearance and we do not present it as one.
What it is — European Conformity declaration covering applicable EU directives — for our machines, the EMC Directive and Low Voltage Directive.
What it proves — Electrical safety construction (isolation, earthing, fault tolerance) and electromagnetic compatibility tested to the relevant harmonised standards.
What it does not — CE on a wellness device is a safety and EMC mark, not an EU medical device approval.
What it is — Restriction of Hazardous Substances — caps on lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and certain flame retardants in the bill of materials.
What it proves — The machine, including its solder, plating, plastics and cabling, is below the EU thresholds for restricted substances.
What it does not — RoHS is a materials-content directive, not a performance test.
What it is — International standard for quality management systems at the manufacturing site.
What it proves — The factory has a documented, audited process for design control, supplier qualification, inbound inspection, in-process checks, traceability and corrective action.
What it does not — ISO 9001 is about how the factory operates, not about the device itself.
What it is — Quality management standard specifically written for organisations producing medical-grade hardware. Stricter than ISO 9001 on traceability, risk management and post-market surveillance.
What it proves — The manufacturing site operates to a quality system that is fit to build hardware destined for medical applications — even when the product itself is sold as a general wellness device.
What it does not — ISO 13485 on the factory does not register or approve the device as a medical device in any jurisdiction.
What it is — Third-party measurement of conducted and radiated emissions in an accredited chamber.
What it proves — The FCC and CE EMC claims are backed by a dated, signed report that can be inspected. We publish the test summary on the certifications page.
What it does not — An EMI report measures emissions; it does not certify therapeutic efficacy.
Our products are sold as general wellness devices, not medical devices. The certifications above describe the hardware and the manufacturing system that builds it — they are not claims of therapeutic effect, diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any condition.
How an industrial-grade hydrogen machine is built.
"Industrial grade" describes the hardware and manufacturing process, not a regulatory status. Here is what that phrase means in practice on our production line.
ISO 13485 production environment
The factory operates under an audited ISO 13485 quality system. Every machine has a build record tied to membrane lot, catalyst batch and chassis serial. Returns are traceable to a single production day if needed.
100% end-of-line testing
Every unit — not a sample — is run through power-on test, leak test, flow verification at rated output, and EMI spot check before leaving the line. Units outside spec are rejected, not graded.
Serviceable, not disposable
PEM stacks are designed to be replaceable. Cannulas, filters and reservoirs are standard parts, not proprietary consumables. The chassis is built to outlive its first stack.
Hardware safety floor
Over-temperature, over-pressure and low-water cut-offs are wired, not firmware-only. A complete software failure still leaves the safety floor intact.
Continuous-duty rated
Inhalers are specified for back-to-back daily sessions. Bath systems are rated for full-cycle runs. Output is the rated number, not the peak number for a thirty-second demo.
Named supplier chain
Membrane (PFSA, named industrial supplier), titanium bipolar plates, Pt/Ir catalysts, and the electronics control board are sourced from identified vendors — not anonymous OEM bins.
SPE / PEM membrane
A solid polymer electrolyte separates hydrogen from oxygen so the user-facing stream is 99.99% pure H₂.
Precision dose control
Session timers and flow modes let you set a consistent, repeatable daily protocol.
Comfortable delivery
Cool, dry hydrogen via comfortable cannulas, masks or — for bathing — a high-flow water diffuser.
Designed-in safety
Over-temperature, over-pressure and low-water cut-offs; gas streams kept separate; no flammable mixture reaches the user.
Continuous duty
Heavy-duty chassis and industrial duty-cycle ratings support long, back-to-back sessions.
Maintenance-light
Distilled-water reservoirs, simple cannula replacement, no proprietary consumables to lock you in.
PEM electrolysis separating water into pure hydrogen and oxygen — the same technology inside every machine we sell.
Ready to pick a machine?
Specs side-by-side for all 9 machines, or talk it through with the Buying Concierge.