In a recent move, the joint recovery of platinum group metals along with ionomers paves the way for much more scalable and also low-carbon production as far as the hydrogen value chain is concerned.
Syensqo, as well as Johnson Matthey, has gone on to showcase a viable pathway in order to recover and also reuse platinum group metals – PGMs and ionomers from the proton exchange membrane – PEM fuel cell and electrolyzer components sans compromising on the performance. The outcomes, published in a new joint white paper, confirm kilogram-scale recovery in terms of valuable materials from the industrial scrap catalyst-coated membranes – CCMs and also their reintegration into new membrane electrode assemblies – MEAs thereby marking a prominent step forward towards material circularity within these systems.
PEM technology goes on to play a very key role in the hydrogen economy, mixing high efficiency along with responsiveness to fluctuations in renewable power. It, apparently, depends on the PGMs as catalysts and fluorinated ionomers in terms of proton conduction in membranes and also catalyst layers, such as Aquivion technology by Syensqo, which is much more widely used across high-performance applications.
In order to go ahead and address this challenge, Johnson Matthey came up with their HyRefine™ process, which is purely a route so as to recycle PGMs sans incineration of the polymer. In parallel, Syensqo has gone on to develop a complementary approach in order to extract, purify, and also recondition ionomers for reuse. Put together, both processes go on to attain high recovery outputs and also maintain the integrity of material, offering potential carbon footprint deductions of almost 80% as compared to the modern routes that depend upon the virgin material.
Throughout the hydrogen value chain, Syensqo supports fuel cell and electrolyzer manufacturers with advanced ionomer and fluorinated material solutions that are designed for efficiency and durability as well as chemical balance. Through integrating the recovery expertise with an established materials portfolio, Syensqo goes on to reinforce its role when it comes to enabling the high-performance PEM technologies.
Says the Green Hydrogen Platform Director at Syensqo, Imre Horvath, “These results are encouraging, as they demonstrate the feasibility of circular recovery from industrial scrap generated in hydrogen applications. This work represents a meaningful step toward expanding material circularity across PEM technologies.”
According to the chief technology officer at Johnson Matthey, “This work shows what’s possible when we combine scientific excellence with true collaboration across the value chain. Recovering high-value materials without compromising performance is a major step toward a more circular PEM ecosystem and a clear example of how innovation can accelerate the hydrogen transition.”
Notably, complete technical findings, which include the processes, performance validation, and life cycle assessment that support these results, are put up on the joint white paper.