Syensqo and Johnson Matthey have demonstrated a viable pathway to recover and reuse platinum group metals (PGMs) and ionomers from proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell and electrolyser components without compromising performance. The results, published in a new joint white paper, confirm kilogram-scale recovery of valuable materials from industrial scrap catalyst coated membranes (CCMs), and their reintegration into new membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), marking a key step toward material circularity in these systems.

PEM technology plays a central role in the hydrogen economy, combining high efficiency with responsiveness to renewable power fluctuations. It relies on PGMs as catalysts and fluorinated ionomers for proton conduction in membranes and catalyst layers, including Syensqo’s Aquivion® technology, widely used in high-performance applications.