Hazer Group (ASX:HZR) said the Japanese Patent Office granted a patent pertaining to the process for producing hydrogen and graphitic carbon from hydrocarbons, extending coverage beyond the production of hydrogen from methane or natural gas using an iron oxide catalyst to include additional key proprietary attributes of the Hazer process, according to a Wednesday Australian bourse filing.

The application pertaining to the patent was accepted in May by issuance of the notice of acceptance.

The company's shares were up 1% in recent Wednesday trade.