Demonstrating a Successful Approach to Nafion™ Membrane Recycling

With the aim of reducing reliance on virgin materials and developing a circular economy, the Chemours Technology Team undertook a feasibility study to determine whether it was possible to isolate, recover, purify, and recycle Nafion™ polymers from used chlor-alkali (CA) membranes.

The goal of the experiment was to extract impurities from the used membranes and reprocess the membrane to obtain a recycled film, and we are thrilled to report this test produced some outstanding results.

After undergoing Chemours’ new multi-step process, the identified contaminants in the resulting lab-scale recycled Nafion™ dispersion were measured at less than 1 ppm. Additionally, there was no appreciable difference in acid capacity between films made from virgin polymer and films made from reclaimed CA polymer.

By prioritizing circularity, Chemours is working towards a more sustainable future in which resources are managed efficiently, waste is minimized, and environmental impacts are reduced.

Download the full case study to learn more about this newly tested Nafion™ membrane recycling process and its potential impact on the decarbonization of the energy industry.