Johnson Matthey and Syensqo demonstrate circular recovery of critical materials from hydrogen technologies

Johnson Matthey and Syensqo 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 Syensqos Aquivion technology, widely used in high-performance applications. Recycling both of these valuable groups of materials is becoming increasingly important, but with the demanding electrochemical conditions of PEM technology, end-of-life recovery is technically complex.

To address this challenge, Johnson Matthey designed their HyRefine process, a purely chemical route to recycle PGMs without incineration of the polymer. In parallel, Syensqo has developed a complementary approach to extract, purify and recondition ionomers for reuse. Together, the two processes achieve high recovery yields and maintain material integrity, offering potential carbon footprint reductions of up to 80% compared with conventional routes relying on virgin material.

This work shows whats possible when we combine scientific excellence with true collaboration across the value chain, said Liz Rowsell, Chief Technology Officer at Johnson Matthey. 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.

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, said Imre Horvath, Green Hydrogen Platform Director at Syensqo.

The full technical findings, including processes, performance validation and life cycle assessment supporting these results, are available in the joint white paper.