PURPOSE: To store and purify hydrogen at low cost by absorbing gaseous hydrogen by allowing the gas to contact with a copper compd. and releasing the gas therefrom at need.

CONSTITUTION: Hydrogen is absorbed by allowing gaseous hydrogen or hydrogen-contg. gas to contact with a copper compd., and releasing the absorbed hydrogen at need. Suitable copper compd. is copper sulfate, copper chloride, copper acetate, copper hydroxide, etc.; the copper compd. may be activated by the pretreatment, such as dehydration by heating, etc. Further, the absorption of hydrogen is performed at ca. 20W30atm, and 0°C W room temp., and the elimination and recovery of hydrogen is performed by reducing the hydrogen pressure of the atmosphere or by elevating the temp. of the absorbent to ≥ca. 50°C. By this method, the storage and purification of hydrogen can be performed simultaneously at low cost.