MET Conference Agenda

Iridium is one of the scarcest and most strategically important metals for the green hydrogen economy, yet current recycling rates from PEM electrolyzers remain extremely low. As global demand rapidly increases, establishing circular and sustainable recovery routes is essential to secure future supply. Within the European project IRION, AIMPLAS and its partners are developing innovative chemical recycling strategies to recover Iridium and other critical metals from end-of-life electrolyzer components. The project explores alternative lixiviants such as ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents to replace conventional, energy-intensive and hazardous leaching chemistries. In parallel, advanced metal recovery techniques including selective electrodeposition and tailored hydrometallurgical flowsheets are being optimized to maximize purity and yield. Building on knowledge acquired in recycling of lithium-ion batteries and WEEE (PCBs, catalysts), IRION aims to adapt and scale proven processes to a new and fast-growing waste stream. The presentation will showcase the technical challenges, preliminary results and industrial impact of creating a circular value chain for Iridium aligned with Europe’s CRM strategy.