Recycling Pure Titanium Scrap Generated in Chlor-alkali Electrolysis Cell Production into Pure Titanium Feedstock Achieving Higher Value Creation through Collaboration with Asahi Kasei and Nippon Steel
Mar 18, 2026
Nippon Steel Trading Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "our company") has established a recycling scheme in collaboration with Asahi Kasei Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “Asahi Kasei”) and Nippon Steel Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “Nippon Steel”) to recycle pure titanium scrap generated during the production process of chlor-alkali electrolysis cell and return it to use as pure titanium melting material.
※1 Provided by Nippon Steel
※2 Provided by Asahi kasei
Recycling pure titanium scrap as melting material for pure titanium has traditionally faced significant challenges. The scrap varies in shape and often contains residues, making it difficult to establish a stable preprocessing system. Preventing contamination by foreign materials and carrying out necessary processing also require considerable effort. Moreover, scrap used in the pure titanium manufacturing flow must meet strict purity requirements, and ensuring full traceability has been extremely challenging. As a result, the scrap has conventionally been used mainly in open‑loop recycling such as steel additives.
To address these challenges, our company partnered with Asahi Kasei and Nippon Steel to build a scheme enabling pure titanium scrap to be recycled as pure titanium melting material.
Under this scheme, pure titanium scrap generated at Asahi Kasei’s chlor-alkali electrolysis cell manufacturing plant in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture is sorted by specification under a digitally enabled management system that ensures full traceability. Our company then collects all the sorted scrap and processes it so that it is suitable as material for the remelting process. A portion of this processed scrap is subsequently delivered to Nippon Steel, where it is used as melting material in pure titanium smelting process.
Our company will continue to strengthen collaboration with Asahi Kasei and Nippon Steel, raise the recycling ratio of pure titanium, and further promote sustainable initiatives that contribute to achieving a carbon‑neutral society.
■Representative Comments
Asahi Kasei – Yoshifumi Kado, Senior General Manager, Ion Exchange Membrane & Electrolysis System Division
We are pleased to have established a mechanism that enables long‑term resource circulation. This initiative reflects the shared sustainability mindset and ongoing partnership between our companies, and we look forward to continuing to advance manufacturing for future generations. We believe this will contribute to enhancing the sustainability of the entire chlor‑alkali industry.
Nippon Steel – Takeshi Terai, Executive Counselor / General Manager, Head of Unit. Tianium Unit.
This scheme was realized by combining Nippon Steel’s technological development for remelting industrial pure titanium using an electron beam furnace with Asahi Kasei’s long‑standing expertise in managing titanium scrap from salt electrolysis cell production. These efforts are supported by our shared sustainability vision and long‑term partnership aimed at advancing resource circulation.
Nippon Steel Trading – Manabu Akimoto, Executive Officer
Through our role in collecting and processing pure titanium scrap generated during salt electrolysis cell production—and delivering the processed material—we believe this collaboration marks a significant step toward achieving a decarbonized, circular society. NST will continue to draw on its strengths as a trading company to ensure the smooth operation of this scheme and maximize its added value.
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NIPPON STEEL TRADING CORPORATION
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