JM, Syensqo pilot PGM and ionomer recovery from PEM components

UK tech licensor Johnson Matthey (JM) and Belgian materials firm Syensqo claim to have successfully demonstrated “kilogram-scale” recovery and reuse of precious metals and ionomers from PEM fuel cell and electrolyser parts.

The duo said they recovered platinum group metals (PGMs) and ionomers from industrial PEM catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) and reintegrated them into new membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs).

Platinum, iridium, and ruthenium are all high-cost metals common in PEM CCMs, which form the core of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) where electrochemical reactions occur.

Currently, PGMs within CCMs are recycled through methods requiring incineration to remove organic materials before further processing to separate and purify the metals.

However, this approach means membranes – made from perfluorosulfonic acid-based polymers, known as ionomers – typically degrade or fluorinate during high-temperature recycling processes, making direct recovery difficult.

Ionomer-based membranes are made from carbon-fluorine bonds – a classification of PFAS.

The new method saw JM use a chemical-based process to recycle PGMs without incinerating the polymer. Syensqo developed a way to extract, purify, and recondition ionomers for reuse.

“Pilot-scale validation has demonstrated that this process has no negative impact on the ionomer performance,” a joint whitepaper stated.

“Analysis showed that the recovered ionomer met the original specification for virgin material, with no evidence of degradation products or trace metals. After recasting the ionomer into a membrane, the proton conductivity showed a profile equivalent to that of fresh material.”

In doing so, the two companies say it could offer potential carbon footprint reductions of up to 80% compared with relying on virgin materials.

“Recovering high-value materials without compromising performance is a major step toward a more circular PEM ecosystem,” said JM Chief Technology Officer Liz Rowsell.

“These results are encouraging,” added Imre Horvath, Green Hydrogen Platform Director at Syensqo, “they demonstrate the feasibility of circular recovery from industrial scrap generated in hydrogen applications.”

PGM use in electrolysers has been a consistent point of concern from industry observers due to their scarcity and growing demand across applications like electric vehicles.

Various electrolyser OEMs have been increasing efforts to reduce iridium loading to cut costs.

There are also growing pressures from regulators to reduce the use of PFAS materials across various sectors, with concerns surrounding their impact on health and the environment

https://www.h2-view.com/story/jm-syensqo-pilot-pgm-and-ionomer-recovery-from-pem-components/2138128.article/