Revolution in recycling: Researchers save valuable raw materials from electrolysers!

Revolution in recycling: Researchers save valuable raw materials from electrolysers!

The search for sustainable resources is crucial for Germany's energy future. The focus is particularly on rare earth metals, which are essential for the production of hydrogen. In this context, researchers at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg innovative hydrometallurgical processes have been developed to recover these valuable raw materials from solid oxide electrolysis cells. A module with an output of 10 megawatts contains around 150 kilograms of rare earth metals such as scandium, lanthanum and cerium.

The team around Dr. Pit Völs has already proven in the laboratory that the method works with just 0.2 grams of cell material per experiment. We are currently working on scaling up to 50 grams in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the recovery.

New recycling approaches for electrolysers

In parallel to these advances, researchers at TU Freiberg have initiated another innovative recycling process in collaboration with the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology. The aim of this project, which is called Renana and stands for “Recycling – Sustainable Use of Resources”, is to recover valuable raw materials from decommissioned hydrogen plants.

With a recovery rate of up to 90 percent of the materials, this process, which combines flotation and particle extraction techniques, offers immense potential. As part of the planned expansion of electrolysers to produce ecologically sustainable hydrogen, the recycling of raw materials such as platinum, iridium, palladium and nickel is becoming increasingly relevant. Not only are these materials expensive, they are also considered critical due to their limited availability.

Future of hydrogen production in the recycling age

The production of hydrogen plays a central role in the energy transition. Green hydrogen produced by water electrolysis from renewable energy requires special catalysts such as those used in PEM electrolysers. High-temperature electrolysers, on the other hand, require nickel and rare earths. Ensuring the supply of these critical materials is one of the main challenges in industrially scaling electrolysis technology in Germany.

As part of the “Recycling – Sustainable Use of Resources” (ReNaRe) project, which is carried out under the BMBF’s “H2Giga” lead project, the development of recycling concepts for old electrolyzer systems is being researched. The processes used, including liquid-liquid particle extraction and agglomeration flotation, enable efficient separation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials and thus promise a high recovery rate.

These innovative approaches could not only increase the cost efficiency of hydrogen production, but also ensure long-term security of supply of critical raw materials. In the coming years, extensive life cycle analyzes and techno-economic studies will be carried out to assess the effects of recycling processes and to develop their industrial applicability, which could revolutionize the entire hydrogen technology. Ingenieur.de reported.