Energy: Catalysts from recycled materials to reduce reliance on critical raw materials

Reducing reliance on platinum group metals, decreasing environmental impact and contributing to sustainable resource management are the principles guiding the European CHemPGM^[1], project, which includes ENEA, dedicated to the development of safe and green strategies for the use and recovery of platinum, palladium and rhodium, officially classified by the European Commission as “critical raw materials” due to supply shortages and a high supply and demand gap.

As explained by ENEA project manager Maria Luisa Grilli, a researcher at the Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources Department (TERIN) “the project activities focus on the sustainable recovery platinum group metals from secondary sources - like spent catalysts - and their reuse in high value-added applications like new catalysts or nanomaterials.”

Platinum group metals are used as catalysts in numerous chemical processes, including CO2 capture and conversion to renewable fuels.

ENEA is involved in the creation of catalysts derived from recycled materials. “These catalysts,” continued Grilli, “are derived from a solution used to selectively dissolve the components of catalytic converters and may, in the future, also be used in electrochemical devices like fuel cells and electrolysers.”

Grilli also pointed out that "CHemPGM provides significant professional growth for involved, thanks to the interdisciplinary nature of the project which fosters a continuous exchange between research and industry, particularly in the fields of chemistry, materials science, engineering, mineral processing, and metallurgy. It provides a virtuous example of cross-fertilization, i.e., the exchange of knowledge and ideas between academia and the market".