3258 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
not be effective for those particles. The actual ionomer con-
tent of the prepared samples is confirmed through TGA
measurements. The influence of the ionomer is identified
by the application of different methods such as measuring
the zeta potential, determining air bubble coverage angle,
and liquid-liquid extraction-based separation. The presence
of ionomers has no significant effect on the hydrophobicity
of carbon black. Regardless of the ionomer content, carbon
black always had a near-zero surface charge and showed
hydrophobic behavior. The surface physical properties of
the TiO2 particles, however, are strongly influenced by
the content of ionomers. The surface charge of the parti-
cles changed significantly, as well as their hydrophobicity.
Previously, PEM recycling studies regarded the ionomer
as a material that had to be removed. However, this study
discovered how the presence and content of the ionomer
affects the surface properties of a particular representative
catalyst material. Since the representative catalyst particles
could be selectively recovered using their hydrophobicity
in the previous study, it is necessary to investigate the effi-
ciency of the applied separation processes on the ionomer
containing particle mixtures. Furthermore, additional stud-
ies are needed to understand this wettability transition of
TiO2. Therefore, considering the removal of the ionomer
before the separation process, or investigating a different
approach is necessary to separate particle mixture success-
fully despite the presence of the ionomer.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank the German Federal
Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) for fund-
ing of the project ReNaRe – Recycling – Nachhaltige
Ressourcennutzung (code: 03HY111D, FeinElSep) as part
of the technology platform H2Giga. The authors thank
Asadullahil Galib for his experimental work and data that
he made.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0 20 40
Nafion content (%)
Carbon black with different Nafion content
Organic Interface Aqueous Loss
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0 20 40
Nafion content (%)
TiO
2
with different Nafion content
Organic Interface Aqueous Loss
Figure 5. Micro particle phase separation results with carbon black (top) and TiO
2 (bottom). In
order from the bottom to the top: Organic phase (dot with blue background), interphase (light
blue), aqueous phase (oblique pattern), and the loss (dot with white background)
wt%
.
of
par
e
in
eac
phase
wt%
.
of
par
e
in
eac
phase
not be effective for those particles. The actual ionomer con-
tent of the prepared samples is confirmed through TGA
measurements. The influence of the ionomer is identified
by the application of different methods such as measuring
the zeta potential, determining air bubble coverage angle,
and liquid-liquid extraction-based separation. The presence
of ionomers has no significant effect on the hydrophobicity
of carbon black. Regardless of the ionomer content, carbon
black always had a near-zero surface charge and showed
hydrophobic behavior. The surface physical properties of
the TiO2 particles, however, are strongly influenced by
the content of ionomers. The surface charge of the parti-
cles changed significantly, as well as their hydrophobicity.
Previously, PEM recycling studies regarded the ionomer
as a material that had to be removed. However, this study
discovered how the presence and content of the ionomer
affects the surface properties of a particular representative
catalyst material. Since the representative catalyst particles
could be selectively recovered using their hydrophobicity
in the previous study, it is necessary to investigate the effi-
ciency of the applied separation processes on the ionomer
containing particle mixtures. Furthermore, additional stud-
ies are needed to understand this wettability transition of
TiO2. Therefore, considering the removal of the ionomer
before the separation process, or investigating a different
approach is necessary to separate particle mixture success-
fully despite the presence of the ionomer.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank the German Federal
Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) for fund-
ing of the project ReNaRe – Recycling – Nachhaltige
Ressourcennutzung (code: 03HY111D, FeinElSep) as part
of the technology platform H2Giga. The authors thank
Asadullahil Galib for his experimental work and data that
he made.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0 20 40
Nafion content (%)
Carbon black with different Nafion content
Organic Interface Aqueous Loss
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0 20 40
Nafion content (%)
TiO
2
with different Nafion content
Organic Interface Aqueous Loss
Figure 5. Micro particle phase separation results with carbon black (top) and TiO
2 (bottom). In
order from the bottom to the top: Organic phase (dot with blue background), interphase (light
blue), aqueous phase (oblique pattern), and the loss (dot with white background)
wt%
.
of
par
e
in
eac
phase
wt%
.
of
par
e
in
eac
phase