Aug 8, 2026
Scientists at the University of Delaware have devised an environmentally friendly technique for reclaiming valuable metals from spent hydrogen-energy systems, as detailed in a Hydrogen Central report. The innovation focuses on components like proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and fuel cells, which depend on iridium and platinum catalysts for efficient hydrogen production and utilization.
Tackling a critical supply constraint
Iridium stands as a scarce resource, with worldwide output totaling only about eight metric tons annually, roughly equivalent to the mass of a medium-sized school bus. Platinum generally occurs in trace amounts within mined ore, whereas iridium is never extracted as a primary product and is obtained solely as a secondary output of platinum mining. This limited availability makes iridium a key limiting factor for PEM electrolyzers, which employ electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen, as well as for PEM fuel cells that transform hydrogen back into electrical power.
An eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods
Traditional recycling techniques for these catalysts frequently depend on aggressive chemicals like sulfuric and nitric acid, which produce hazardous waste streams, or they involve incinerating the membrane to yield ash containing platinum and iridium, a procedure that may emit dangerous fluorine-based gases. The newly developed approach, created by doctoral student Safina-E-Tahura Siddiqui under the guidance of Ajay Prasad, employs a targeted spray of isopropyl alcohol mixed with water to separate the precious metals from the membrane. Prasad, who holds the title of Engineering Alumni Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and serves as associate director of the Center for Clean Hydrogen, likened the method to power-washing a building’s exterior, where the catalyst is brushed away from the surface without employing harsh substances or combustion.
Maintaining the membrane and cutting expenses
In contrast to other recycling strategies that concentrate exclusively on metal recovery, the University of Delaware process also preserves the membrane while retrieving the platinum and iridium catalysts individually. This preservation yields financial benefits, given that standard membranes used in PEM electrolyzers and fuel cells represent 20% to 30% of the stack’s cost, with the stack being the core component where electrochemical reactions take place. These membranes consist of polymers categorized as PFAS, often referred to as forever chemicals, which remain in the environment for extended periods and raise contamination issues. Additionally, maintaining the recovered catalyst materials in separate streams during extraction helps avoid separation complications downstream in the recycling workflow.
Engineering hurdles and future directions
The procedure demands precise management of jet velocity, solvent concentration, distance, and heat. Siddiqui initiated her work with small-scale beaker trials, followed by hundreds of tests using membranes about the size of a postage stamp, adjusting temperature, solvent ratio, and duration to identify optimal parameters. A notable obstacle emerged when the membrane reacted with the solvent, sometimes swelling to nearly double its original dimensions, which led to sagging and tearing during the spray-jet operation. To resolve this, Siddiqui engineered a heated vacuum platform that kept the membrane flat while catalyst layers were stripped from both sides.
The team’s ambitions extend beyond material recovery. In the upcoming phase, they intend to measure recovery rates, analyze the reclaimed catalysts and membranes, and evaluate their functionality in active electrochemical cells. Ultimately, they aspire to reintegrate these recovered components into new hydrogen-energy systems, fostering a more sustainable and robust supply chain for future energy technologies. This research received funding from H2CIRC, a collaborative initiative backed by the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office under grant number DE-EE0011338. The findings appeared in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, with a patent application submitted through the university’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships.
-
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
-
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
-
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
-
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
- MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
-
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
-
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
-
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
-
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
-
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
-
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
-
11. COUNTRY PROFILES
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition
PRO-
11.1
United States
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.2
China
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.3
Japan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.4
Germany
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.5
United Kingdom
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.6
France
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.7
Brazil
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.8
Italy
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.9
Russian Federation
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.10
India
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.11
Canada
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.12
Australia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.13
Republic of Korea
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.14
Spain
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.15
Mexico
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.16
Indonesia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.17
Netherlands
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.18
Turkey
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.19
Saudi Arabia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.20
Switzerland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.21
Sweden
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.22
Nigeria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.23
Poland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.24
Belgium
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.25
Argentina
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.26
Norway
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.27
Austria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.28
Thailand
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.29
United Arab Emirates
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.30
Colombia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.31
Denmark
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.32
South Africa
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.33
Malaysia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.34
Israel
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.35
Singapore
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.36
Egypt
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.37
Philippines
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.38
Finland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.39
Chile
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.40
Ireland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.41
Pakistan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.42
Greece
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.43
Portugal
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.44
Kazakhstan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.45
Algeria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.46
Czech Republic
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.47
Qatar
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.48
Peru
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.49
Romania
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
11.50
Vietnam
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
-
-
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2025
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
- Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
-
LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Consumption, by Country, 2025
- Market Volume Forecast to 2035
- Market Value Forecast to 2035
- Market Size and Growth, By Product
- Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
- Exports and Growth, By Product
- Export Prices and Growth, By Product
- Production Volume and Growth
- Exports and Growth
- Export Prices and Growth
- Market Size and Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports and Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Production, by Country, 2025
- Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
