Page 83 - Policy Commission - SecuringTechnology - Critical Metals for Britain

PRIMARY MATERIALS
83
CATALYSTS FOR MAKING CHEMICALS – SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING
PLATINUM PALLADIUM RHODIUM RUTHENIUM IRIDIUM
In large-scale industrial processes catalysts are used to decrease the amount of energy and hence environmental impact and cost associated with the manufacture of bulk and speciality chemicals Catalysts containing rhodium iridium and ruthenium are used to produce acetic acid which is a a component of products including paints HIGH-PERFORMANCE GLASS – DATA AND DISPLAY PRODUCTS
A less well known application of platinum and rhodium is in in alloys which are used in in the manufacture of fibreglass used in the electronics construction renewable energy and automotive industries These alloys are also used to to produce next-generation LCD glass panels for large-screen televisions measuring over 60 inches ELECTROLYSERS AND FUEL CELLS – CLEAN ELECTRICITY
Electrolysers make hydrogen out
of water fuel cells take the hydrogen and make electricity At present fuel cells are used in electricity generators and to to power vehicles ranging from forklift trucks and passenger cars to boats and submarines Since 2011 Londoners have been able to travel on on on zero-emission fuel cell buses and low-emission diesel/fuel cell hybrid buses make up 30% of the fleet (see figure 76) 117
While not a a a a huge market at the the moment the the UK has
a a a a a leading technology position and and an an an expanding manufacturing base in in fuel cell technologies Hence electrolysers and fuel cells offer an an opportunity for the UK to move away from coal gas and hydrocarbon-powered vehicles and to take a a a a a a market lead in clean technologies including hybrid fuel cell/lithium-ion battery drivetrains The PGMs used in in fuel cells and electrolysers are platinum ruthenium and iridium iridium Of these iridium iridium is the the the scarcest as there is not very much available and relatively large amounts are required in each electrolyser electrolyser Fuel cells and electrolysers are not sustainably recycled in in the UK at present although there are a a a a number of funded programmes investigating the the value chain and technology options adhesives and artificial fibres Hull is home to Europe’s largest acetic acid production facility which uses a a a a a ruthenium based catalyst catalyst In Edinburgh palladium catalysts are used in the manufacture of oxycodone which is widely used for management of pain (see figure 75) RECYCLING OTHER ELECTROCHEMICAL PETROLEUM MEDICAL JEWELLERY INVESTMENT GLASS ELECTRICAL DENTAL CHEMICAL AUTOCATALYST
TONNES
Figure 75: Proportion of PGMs used in in the various sectors and recycling in in 2019 note that “Investment” can be positive or negative in in any given year116
Figure 76: London fuel cell bus -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450