2026-07-23 デラウェア大学（UD）
A used catalyst-coated membrane is shown alongside a cleaned membrane after processing with the UD recycling method. In the background, recovered catalyst materials illustrate how the process keeps platinum and iridium separate while preserving the membrane for potential reuse.
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2026/july/green-recycling-hydrogen-energy-materials/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360319926010670
スプレージェットシステムを用いたPEM電解槽および燃料電池からの貴金属触媒および膜のグリーンリサイクル Green recycling of precious metal catalysts and membranes from PEM electrolyzers and fuel cells using a spray-jet system
Safina-E-Tahura Siddiqui, Ajay K. Prasad
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy Available online: 10 March 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154430
Highlights
- An automated spray-jet method is developed to recover catalysts and membranes from PEM fuel cell and electrolyzer MEAs.
- Heated (60 °C) IPA-water jet enables rapid catalyst delamination, stripping, and recovery.
- Sequential anode and cathode stripping ensures separate Ir and Pt recovery without comingling.
- Membrane integrity is preserved while achieving visually complete catalyst removal.
- Spray-jet method is rapid, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly compared to conventional recycling approaches.
Abstract
Proton-exchange membrane (PEM) systems, including fuel cells (FCs) and electrolyzers (ELs), contain precious-metal catalysts (Pt, Ir/IrO2) and perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes. While recycling and reuse of these materials have gained prominence, conventional FC/EL catalyst coated membrane (CCM) recycling approaches such as high-temperature incineration or chemical-intensive dissolution prioritize precious metal recovery, neglecting preservation of the PFSA membrane. Here, we demonstrate a rapid, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly spray-jet method to recover both catalysts and membranes from FC/EL CCMs. The process employs a calibrated high-pressure jet of a heated isopropyl alcohol-water mixture to strip away the catalyst layer while preserving membrane integrity. Automated spray-jet motion along a planned trajectory enables optimized catalyst extraction. For EL CCMs, sequential stripping of cathode and anode sides ensures that Pt and Ir catalysts are recovered without comingling, eliminating the need for post-extraction separation steps. The method is successfully demonstrated on three distinct MEAs, enabling energy-efficient recovery of high-purity catalysts and intact PFSA membranes, and thereby offering a pathway toward green and sustainable PEM-system recycling.
