Process for the recovery of ionomer
AssigneeJohnson Matthey Fuel Cells Limited
InventorsRobert Jeffrey Coleman, Thomas Robertson Ralph, Sam Haig, Natalia V. Plechkova
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for the recovery of a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer from a component comprising a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer is disclosed, the process comprising immersing the component comprising the perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer in a solvent comprising an aliphatic diol and heating. Also disclosed is the use of the recovered perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer, for example in to prepared a proton conducting membrane or a catalyst ink.
Claims9
A process for the recovery of perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer from a component comprising a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer, wherein the component comprising a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer is selected from the group consisting of
- a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer composite membrane wherein the composite membrane contains materials that confer mechanical strength,
- a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer membrane wherein the membrane comprises a recombination catalyst,
- a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer membrane wherein the membrane comprises a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst,
- a catalyst coated membrane,
- a membrane electrode assembly,
- and,
- an electrode,
- said process comprising the steps of:
- (i) immersing the component comprising a perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer in a solvent consisting of a C1-8 aliphatic diol compound and optionally a co-solvent that is miscible with the C1-8aliphatic diol compound, wherein said diol compound comprises at least one —CH2OH group;
- and
- (ii) heating the component/solvent mix to a temperature of 90° C. to 150° C., wherein the temperature is below the boiling point of the solvent, to obtain a dispersion comprising solvent and perfluorosulphonic acid ionomer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.