Asahi Kasei, Nippon Steel, and Nippon Steel Trading have teamed up on a groundbreaking recycling project to turn pure titanium scrap from electrolysis cell production into new raw material for high-purity titanium. The initiative aims to cut environmental impact and boost the value of recovered materials.
For five decades, Asahi Kasei has been a leader in the chlor-alkali electrolysis industry, producing caustic soda and chlorine. The company supplies electrolyzer cells, ion-exchange membranes, electrodes, and operational expertise to electrolysis plants worldwide. Electrolyzers split concentrated saltwater (brine) into chlorine, hydrogen, and caustic soda, essential ingredients in a wide range of chemical products.
In these cells, the anode relies on pure titanium to resist the corrosive effects of chlorine. The metal must meet ultra-high purity standards to maintain corrosion resistance and processability. “When using pure titanium scrap as raw material for remelting, extremely stringent quality control and pre-treatment methods are required to prevent contamination with impurities,” the companies noted.
To close the material loop, Asahi Kasei partnered with its supplier Nippon Steel and Nippon Steel Trading to remelt scrap generated at its Nobeoka, Japan, site into new titanium. Digital tools ensure strict traceability and contamination control throughout the process. Nippon Steel Trading collects and processes the scrap into a form suitable for remelting, and a portion is returned to Nippon Steel for use as raw material in its titanium remelting process.
“The establishment of a system to circulate precious resources represents each company’s shared sustainability perspective and ongoing partnership,” said Yoshifumi Kado, Senior General Manager of Asahi Kasei’s Ion Exchange Membrane & Electrolysis System Division. “This is another valuable initiative contributing to enhanced sustainability across the entire chlor-alkali industry.”
The partners plan to further boost recycling rates of pure titanium and link the initiative with other projects, including a closed-loop recycling program for precious metals launched in April 2025.
“This initiative was realized by combining Nippon Steel’s development of industrial-grade pure titanium remelting technology in its electron beam melting furnace with Asahi Kasei’s long-established management system for titanium scrap within its manufacturing process,” said Ken Terai, Executive Counselor and Head of the Titanium Unit at Nippon Steel.
Manabu Akimoto, Executive Officer at Nippon Steel Trading, added, “This collaboration marks a significant step towards realizing a decarbonized and circular society by undertaking the recovery, processing, and supply of pure titanium scrap. Moving forward, we will continue to leverage our accumulated experience and track record in distribution and trading to ensure the smooth operation of this initiative and maximize its added value.”
