Landfill-based Pilot Plant Producing Green Hydrogen And Nanomaterials From Landfill Gas In S. Calif
Catalyx Nanotech Begins Converting Landfill Gas to Nanofibers, Hydrogen at a Southern California Landfill
Anaheim, Calif. – June 19, 2009 -- Catalyx Nanotech, Inc.,
(www.catalyxnano.com/) announced that their pilot project to
convert landfill gas (LFG) to nanofibers has successfully started operating at a
closed southern California landfill. Previously, this pilot unit was operating
as a production plant in Burnaby, Canada, using natural gas as the feed source
and producing 2.0 Kg of nanofibers per day. The pilot project currently operates
on a reduced capacity for a single shift each day producing approximately 0.5 Kg
of high value Platelet Graphite Nanofibers and 2,000 liters of “green” hydrogen
from a completely renewable resource. The materials are not being produced for
commercial sale and will be used for extensive analyses and tests for design of
large-scale commercial production plants.
The pilot will help determine the operating limits of the
proprietary process, which relies on a patented catalyst to selectively crack
methane and produce structured graphitic platelet fibers and pure hydrogen, with
no other byproducts.
First to Produce Nanofibers from Landfill Gas
While numerous companies claim to have a process to
produce carbon nanomaterials from methane, Catalyx Nanotech is believed to be
the first to produce the nanomaterials on a large scale from methane, especially
from landfill gas. To further distinguish Catalyx Nanotech from nanomaterial
competitors, management has made a conscientious decision to embrace a corporate
social responsibility and sustainability attitude and therefore optimize, rather
than maximize, profits by using renewable sources of methane, such as landfill
gas and biogas, for feed materials.
“Previously, we have operated a commercial-scale nanofiber
plant using natural gas as the feed. We wanted to use this ‘downtime’ in the
economy to achieve our next milestone of using renewable sources of methane as
the feed to produce ‘green’ nanofibers and hydrogen,” stated Mustafa
Jangbarwala, Catalyx Nanotech VP of Business Development.
“We understand that landfill gas and biogas may end up
costing us a bit more than natural gas, but the difference in costs is
affordable, and regard for our environment is far more important than capturing
that difference,” Mustafa Jangbarwala noted. “We believe corporations need to be
responsible in these arenas now, rather than wait for government mandates before
they take the steps that will help ensure a healthy environment for future
generations.
99% Pure Nanofibers and 100% Green Hydrogen
“Our advantage is that we are able to produce nanofibers
at greater than 99% purity, as well as 100% green hydrogen in a one-step
process,” says Yinan Jin, Catalyx Nanotech Chief Research Scientist.
“Purification of nanomaterials from typical carbon batches is an extremely
expensive undertaking for commercial applications. Catalyx Nanotech is
eliminating the extra work and, consequently, the expense of separating
nanofibers from byproducts, such as amorphous carbon, soot, etc., that make
nanomaterials so costly today. We expect to commoditize nano-scale graphite
materials at prices comparable to high quality synthetic graphite used in
electrodes and refractory applications. After some preliminary test runs, we
will also integrate a small fuel cell to demonstrate how the electrochemical
reaction of hydrogen and oxygen can produce electrical energy, as opposed to the
direct combustion of hydrogen and oxygen to produce thermal energy. This in situ
generation of green electricity with a zero-carbon footprint is just one
possible use of the hydrogen.”
Low Cost, Distributed Production Makes Hydrogen Economy
Viable
“The key to the success of a hydrogen economy is
affordability and the availability of the hydrogen infrastructure,” explains
Juzer Jangbarwala, Catalyx Nanotech Founder and Chairman. “By default, the
number of landfills is directly proportional to urban population centers. These landfills could provide LOCAL
sources of low-cost ‘green’ hydrogen to nearby filling stations. By using
renewable landfill gas, not only is the carbon footprint of the hydrogen
production process eliminated, but also much of the footprint associated with
transportation of hydrogen -- often hundreds of miles -- is also
eliminated.
Catalyx Nanotech’s technology can make hydrogen
AFFORDABLE. Catalyx Nanotech’s approach all but eliminates the transportation
that accounts for approximately 50% of hydrogen’s cost and the 10% lost to
leakage. Catalyx Nanotech’s small low-cost plants are easy to build, are low
maintenance, and integrate easily into existing landfill sites - a major
advantage over alternative energy production methods. Additionally, production
costs are offset by the valuable nanomaterials produced during the hydrogen
production process.
Juzer concludes, “Our approach offers a viable way to a
greener transportation economy while employing environmentally friendly
production processes and helping reduce costs for the broad spectrum of products
that utilize nanomaterials.”
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The pilot will run through June 30. Plant tours for potential clients and
landfill representatives are available by appointment through 6/30.
June 29, 2009
Landfill-based Pilot Plant Producing Green Hydrogen And Nanomaterials From Landfill Gas In S. Calif
Catalyx Nanotech Begins Converting Landfill Gas to Nanofibers, Hydrogen at a Southern California Landfill
Anaheim, Calif. – June 19, 2009 -- Catalyx Nanotech, Inc.,
(www.catalyxnano.com/) announced that their pilot project to
convert landfill gas (LFG) to nanofibers has successfully started operating at a
closed southern California landfill. Previously, this pilot unit was operating
as a production plant in Burnaby, Canada, using natural gas as the feed source
and producing 2.0 Kg of nanofibers per day. The pilot project currently operates
on a reduced capacity for a single shift each day producing approximately 0.5 Kg
of high value Platelet Graphite Nanofibers and 2,000 liters of “green” hydrogen
from a completely renewable resource. The materials are not being produced for
commercial sale and will be used for extensive analyses and tests for design of
large-scale commercial production plants.
The pilot will help determine the operating limits of the
proprietary process, which relies on a patented catalyst to selectively crack
methane and produce structured graphitic platelet fibers and pure hydrogen, with
no other byproducts.
First to Produce Nanofibers from Landfill Gas
While numerous companies claim to have a process to
produce carbon nanomaterials from methane, Catalyx Nanotech is believed to be
the first to produce the nanomaterials on a large scale from methane, especially
from landfill gas. To further distinguish Catalyx Nanotech from nanomaterial
competitors, management has made a conscientious decision to embrace a corporate
social responsibility and sustainability attitude and therefore optimize, rather
than maximize, profits by using renewable sources of methane, such as landfill
gas and biogas, for feed materials.
“Previously, we have operated a commercial-scale nanofiber
plant using natural gas as the feed. We wanted to use this ‘downtime’ in the
economy to achieve our next milestone of using renewable sources of methane as
the feed to produce ‘green’ nanofibers and hydrogen,” stated Mustafa
Jangbarwala, Catalyx Nanotech VP of Business Development.
“We understand that landfill gas and biogas may end up
costing us a bit more than natural gas, but the difference in costs is
affordable, and regard for our environment is far more important than capturing
that difference,” Mustafa Jangbarwala noted. “We believe corporations need to be
responsible in these arenas now, rather than wait for government mandates before
they take the steps that will help ensure a healthy environment for future
generations.
99% Pure Nanofibers and 100% Green Hydrogen
“Our advantage is that we are able to produce nanofibers
at greater than 99% purity, as well as 100% green hydrogen in a one-step
process,” says Yinan Jin, Catalyx Nanotech Chief Research Scientist.
“Purification of nanomaterials from typical carbon batches is an extremely
expensive undertaking for commercial applications. Catalyx Nanotech is
eliminating the extra work and, consequently, the expense of separating
nanofibers from byproducts, such as amorphous carbon, soot, etc., that make
nanomaterials so costly today. We expect to commoditize nano-scale graphite
materials at prices comparable to high quality synthetic graphite used in
electrodes and refractory applications. After some preliminary test runs, we
will also integrate a small fuel cell to demonstrate how the electrochemical
reaction of hydrogen and oxygen can produce electrical energy, as opposed to the
direct combustion of hydrogen and oxygen to produce thermal energy. This in situ
generation of green electricity with a zero-carbon footprint is just one
possible use of the hydrogen.”
Low Cost, Distributed Production Makes Hydrogen Economy
Viable
“The key to the success of a hydrogen economy is
affordability and the availability of the hydrogen infrastructure,” explains
Juzer Jangbarwala, Catalyx Nanotech Founder and Chairman. “By default, the
number of landfills is directly proportional to urban population centers. These landfills could provide LOCAL
sources of low-cost ‘green’ hydrogen to nearby filling stations. By using
renewable landfill gas, not only is the carbon footprint of the hydrogen
production process eliminated, but also much of the footprint associated with
transportation of hydrogen -- often hundreds of miles -- is also
eliminated.
Catalyx Nanotech’s technology can make hydrogen
AFFORDABLE. Catalyx Nanotech’s approach all but eliminates the transportation
that accounts for approximately 50% of hydrogen’s cost and the 10% lost to
leakage. Catalyx Nanotech’s small low-cost plants are easy to build, are low
maintenance, and integrate easily into existing landfill sites - a major
advantage over alternative energy production methods. Additionally, production
costs are offset by the valuable nanomaterials produced during the hydrogen
production process.
Juzer concludes, “Our approach offers a viable way to a
greener transportation economy while employing environmentally friendly
production processes and helping reduce costs for the broad spectrum of products
that utilize nanomaterials.”
The pilot will run through June 30. Plant tours for potential clients and
landfill representatives are available by appointment through 6/30.