Revolution in recycling: Freiberg recovered rare earth from electrolysers!

Revolution in recycling: Freiberg recovered rare earth from electrolysers!

Freiberg, Deutschland - The future of energy supply by hydrogen is the focus of current research at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. Researchers have developed hydrometallurgical processes to regain rare earth metals from electrolysors. These metals such as Scandium, Lanthan and CER are sought -after raw materials that play a central role in hydrogen technology. The TU Freiberg reports per 10 megawatts of a fixed oxide electrolysis cell module are included. The new recycling method could help reduce the dependence on primary raw materials and thus increase the sustainability of hydrogen production.

currently the recycling method is still in laboratory status, where it was tested with a small amount of 0.2 grams of cell material. The researchers are now working to transfer the processes to a larger laboratory scale of up to 50 grams. Under the direction of Dr. Pit Völs will continue to promote research to optimize material recovery in the future.

recycling of valuable raw materials

In addition to the rare earths, scientists from the Bergakademie Freiberg and the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg develop a procedure for recovery from further valuable raw materials from dustling hydrogen technology. As part of the Renana project, which stands for "recycling - sustainable resource use", the recovery of raw materials such as platinum, iridium and palladium is to be recovered. Up to 90 percent of these materials can be recovered through innovative processes such as flotation and particle extraction methods.

The recovery is carried out using specific procedures that are cut to high-temperature systems (SOECs) and water gaps with proton exchange membranes (PEM). These methods are particularly efficient because the critical materials are available in the form of fine particles, the diameter of which is about a hundredth of a human hair. The combination of liquid-liquid-liquid particle extraction and agglomeration flotation enables the separation of water-repellent and water-approaching particles.

hydrogen production in change

The meaning of hydrogen, especially green hydrogen from renewable energies, is undisputed for the energy transition. In Germany and Europe, the expansion of electrolysers to produce eco-hydrogen from green electricity is promoted. The planned overall performance of the new electrolysers should include several dozen gigawatt, which underlines the need for waste -free and sustainable materials.

With the recycling processes, not only the security of supply with critical raw materials could be guaranteed, but also the costs for hydrogen production could be reduced. Projects such as Renare, which is carried out under the lead project H2Giga of the BMBF, have set themselves the goal of creating economic concepts for recovery and reuse of materials in future electrolyser generations. The approach has the potential to make the entire industry more sustainable and to minimize the influence on the environment.

Overall, it can be seen that the combination of innovative technology and sustainable recycling processes could be the key to successful and environmentally friendly hydrogen production. Experts of the TU Freiberg and the collaboration between science and industry are optimistic that the research results will soon be used in practice.

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