Patent ID: 8206682
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: C22B,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for recovering catalytic elements from a fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, comprising: converting the membrane electrode assembly into a particulate material wherein the converting comprises cryogenically grinding the membrane electrode assembly into a powder; wetting the particulate material wherein the wetting comprises agglomerating the powder with a binder wherein the binder is a mixture of polyethylene glycol and a surfactant; forming a slurry comprising the wetted particulate material and an acid leachate adapted to dissolve at least one of the catalytic elements into a soluble catalytic element salt; separating the slurry into a depleted particulate material and a supernatant containing the catalytic element salt; and washing the depleted particulate material to remove any catalytic element salt retained within pores in the depleted particulate material.