MONTREAL, Canada — HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: HPQ) (OTCQB: HPQFF) (FRA: O08), a technology company specializing in green engineering of silica and silicon-based materials would like to update shareholders on recent developments from HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. (“HSPI”) [1] regarding the commercial validation of its proprietary Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR) process.
Technology supplier PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX: PYR, OTCQX: PYRGF, FRA: 8PY) (“PyroGenesis”) informed HSPI that, after successfully commissioning the pilot system, its engineering team identified the need for an additional enhancement to improve the performance of the pilot plant. This enhancement will ensure a more consistent flow of fumed silica from the reactor to downstream recovery equipment at pilot scale, a marked improvement from its lab-scale system.
“Implementing the enhancement at this stage is essential for a smooth transition to commercial production later on,” said P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis Inc. “By refining the operational process now, we’re ensuring that HSPI’s clients can expect high-quality standards, setting the stage for a sustainable and efficient production scale-up.”
ENSURING PRODUCT QUALITY WITH KEY PROCESS ENHANCEMENTS
PyroGenesis Canada is always actively exploring ways to refine HSPI’s proprietary FSR technology pilot plant to ensure high-quality production at both the pilot scale and in future commercial operations. The current improvement centers on an extended refractory conditioning phase, a crucial process designed to prepare the reactor’s internal structure to handle continuous, high-quality material output. Before full material production begins, the refractory lining within the reactor must undergo high-temperature curing, a step that conditions and strengthens the lining, especially in areas exposed to off-gas interactions.
This conditioning is essential to creating a smoother, more robust inner surface that can withstand prolonged high-intensity use. By establishing these foundational elements now, we are setting up the pilot plant for steady, high-efficiency operation that will meet quality standards both during pilot runs and in commercial-scale production.
“Implementing this integration, which ensures a consistent flow of product at this stage, demonstrates that the PyroGenesis engineering team has complete control over the process,” added Mr. Pascali.
“These normal and expected process improvements during the scale-up phase do not alter our confidence in the transformative potential of our FSR technology,” said Bernard Tourillon, President & CEO of HPQ Silicon and HPQ Silicon Polvere. “Our objective remains clear: to disrupt the fumed silica market by providing a cost-effective, high-efficiency solution that could redefine industry standards. We are making strides toward securing offtake agreements and are excited to lead the charge in revolutionizing fumed silica manufacturing.”
A FOUNDATION FOR COMMERCIAL READINESS
Once the extended refractory conditioning phase is completed in the next two weeks, the program will advance to the batch production phase, during which the FSR will begin manufacturing fumed silica. The primary objective at this stage is to validate the process’s ability to consistently replicate essential physical properties—such as surface area—and rheological properties, including viscosity and thickening behavior, as demonstrated at the lab scale. After reaching this milestone, the system will transition to semi-continuous operation, targeting the production of at least 200 kg of commercial-grade fumed silica samples for comprehensive testing and validation.
Throughout these phases, the produced fumed silica will undergo internal testing, with samples sent to Evonik as per the LOI announced on July 9, 2024, and potentially to other parties under NDA for evaluation. By Q1 2025, the focus will shift toward optimizing pilot plant operations to produce food- and pharma-grade fumed silica with surface areas of 300 m²/g. In addition to producing materials with surface areas ranging from 150 to 300 m²/g, the overarching goal is to run the pilot plant at full capacity, achieving multiple daily production cycles and delivering commercial-quality material. With an estimated 20 hours of daily operation, the system is projected to produce approximately 161 kg per day, or 50,000 kg annually (50 TPY).
REFERENCE SOURCES
[1] A wholly owned subsidiary of HPQ Silicon Inc. when technology supplier PyroGenesis announced its intention to exercise its option to acquire a 50% stake in HSPI in May 2024.
HPQ Silicon is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1 Industrial Issuer. With the support of world-class technology partners PyroGenesis Canada and NOVACIUM SAS, the company is developing new green processes crucial to make the critical materials needed to reach net zero emissions.
