UK fuel cell project sows seed for new recycling business

United Kingdom – UK resource recovery specialist Axion Consulting, Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd and Technical Fibre Products (TFP) claim to have developed ‘a pioneering recycling process’ to recover high-value materials from waste fuel cells.

Funded by innovation agency Innovate UK, the aim of their project is to establish the technical and economic feasibility of recovery and reuse of high-value materials from fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and ′ultimately to establish the potential for a new UK-based global recycling business′, says Axion.

Having proven the initial process steps, further research is under way to evaluate the viability for commercial operation and for developing a take-back system for end-of-life fuel cells, such as those from forklift trucks, mobile phone masts and electric vehicles as well as those in small portable power packs for laptops and other products.

′Elegant chemistry′

The project offers ′exciting potential using really elegant chemistry′, comments Axion′s consulting director Roger Morton. ′The ability to recycle fuel cells is important as they will be powering the vehicles and technology of the future, which needs to be cost-effective if they are to be acceptable to both consumers and manufacturers.′

Morton adds: ′To make fuel cells more cost-effective, we need to reduce their whole-life cost and maximise the value of the resources they contain, such as platinum, high-value polymers and carbon fibre. Recycling them would also improve resource efficiency and security of supply for these expensive and critical materials.′

Design & hurdles

Axion underlines that the project involves a strong focus on design for recycling ′so the products are easier to recycle in the first place′. Key challenges include the collection of widely-distributed fuel cells and the technical hurdles presented by material recovery. ′For example, a high yield is essential for platinum while carbon fibres need to be separated from other components,′ it is stressed.

Meanwhile, laboratory trials are continuing at Axion′s Salford recycling facility alongside on-going market investigations. Morton points out: ′The hydrogen economy will continue to develop and grow. In 10 to 15 years′ time, significant quantities of fuel cells will reach the end of their lives and having the technological capability to recover their valuable resources will be crucial.′

Axion Consulting is part of the Axion Group that develops and operates innovative resource recovery and processing solutions for recycling waste materials. Johnson Matthey is a global speciality chemicals company and a leader in sustainable technologies, while TFP is a leading manufacturer of nonwovens.

For more information, visit: www.axionconsulting.co.uk