Compared to conventional processes, HPQ commercial Fumed Silica can be made:
- Using 87% less energy, and
- Releasing 84% less CO2 eq emissions
MONTREAL, Canada — HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: HPQ) (OTCQB: HPQFF) (FRA: O08), , a technology company specializing in green engineering processes for silica and silicon material production is pleased to update shareholders on the most recent developments on its Fumed Silica Initiative, led by its wholly owned subsidiary, HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. (HPQ Polvere).
Independent analysis done at McGill University confirms that HPQ Polvere’s Fumed Silica Reactor produces commercial-quality hydrophilic material with a high surface area and excellent thickening efficiency.
HPQ FSR VS Traditional Fumed Silica Process
INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS CONFIRMS HPQ FUMED SILICA MEETS ALL COMMERCIAL CRITERIA
Technology provider PyroGenesis Canada Inc. PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX: PYR) (NASDAQ: PYR) (FRA: 8PY) (Pyrogenesis) sent material made using the lab-scaled model of HPQ Polvere’s proprietary Fumed Silica Reactor (“FSR”) and two different grades of commercially available Fumed Silica materials to an independent third party laboratory (McGill University) for an analysis of their structural and chemical characteristics. The information obtained allowed the production of the Technical Data Sheet (TDS) [1].
The salient point of the analysis is that it confirms that the HPQ-produced Fumed Silica material, made under less-than-optimal operating parameters, is of commercial quality with the following key characteristics [1]:
- It is Hydrophilic,
- It possesses High Surface Area (135-185 m2/g), and
- It has Excellent Thickening Efficiency.
“This is a major milestone for HPQ,” said Mr. Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. and HPQ Silicon Inc. “The results not only validate that we can make commercial grade Hydrophilic Fumed Silica directly from Quartz in one step using only the power of plasma, but also represent a clear indication of the test results we expect from the numerous parties who have requested samples under NDA.”
LAB SCALE TESTING VALIDATES THE DISRUPTIVE NATURE OF HPQ FUMED SILICA REACTOR
In addition to making commercial-grade Fumed Silica directly from quartz, a substantial disruptive advantage, the lab-scale testing of HPQ Polvere’s proprietary FSR process provided PyroGenesis with the necessary operational data to create the following table. The table below showcases the significant advantages of the FSR compared to conventional processes.
Table 1, HPQ disruptive advantages versus conventional processes
Data from the latest tests show an expected reduction in energy consumption for Fumed Silica production using the FSR, theoretical estimations show that we can expect a reduction in energy consumption by 87.5% to 90% versus conventional processes. As energy represents one of the largest variable costs in traditional Fumed Silica production processes, HPQ Polvere, with its proprietary Fumed Silica Reactor, gains a substantial economic advantage over traditional manufacturers.
Furthermore, modelization indicate that by using our process, CO2 eq. emissions can be reduced by 84% to 88%, versus traditional processes, surpassing the 50% reduction potential we first mentioned in our July 2023 release.
This unique capability can help substantially minimize the environmental impact associated with Fumed Silica manufacturing and the carbon taxes associated which represents another substantial economic advantage for HPQ Polvere. In Europe, where the current price per tonne of CO2 emissions for manufactured and imported goods is approximately 90 euros [6], traditional producers of fumed silica could potentially reduce their carbon tax cost by around 630 euros per tonne [7] simply by upgrading to the HPQ Polvere process.
Finally, traditional processes to make Fumed silica produce an average of 2.4 Kg of Hydrogen chloride (HCI) per Kg of Fumed silica produced [4]. HCI, being a hazardous by-product, the Capex and Opex costs associated with its management can be substantial. As the FSR process does not produce any HCI, this represents an additional substantial economic advantage for HPQ Polvere.
REFERENCE SOURCES
[1] TECHNICAL DATA SHEET, prepared from the tests resulted from McGill University
Summary of Fumed Silica Polvere Product fabricated with Lab Scale Fumed Silica Reactor at PyroGenesis
versus two different commercially available Fumed Silica Material
[2] Frischknecht, Rolf, et al. “Life cycle inventories and life cycle assessment of photovoltaic systems.” International Energy Agency (IEA) PVPS Task 12 (2020).
[3] PyroGenesis Canada Inc.
[4] Cai, H., Wang, X., Kelly, J. C., & Wang, M. (2021). Building Life-Cycle Analysis with the GREET Building Module: Methodology, Data, and Case Studies (No. ANL/ESD-21/13). Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States).
[5] The 1 Kg eq of CO2 per Kg of Fumed Silica is based on Hydro Quebec data that indicate in Quebec 1.3 g of CO2 are generated eq per KWh. While the 2.5 is based on the Canadian average for electricity generation carbon intensity of 150 g per KWh.
[6] The Wall Street Journal article, April 18, 2023, “World’s First Carbon Import Tax Approved by EU Lawmakers”
[7] The 630 euros per tonne carbon taxes reduction is estimated by taking the lowest CO2 eq emission for conventional process (8) less the lowest CO2 eq emission for the FRS (1) and multiplying the result by 90. (8-1) = 7, 7*90 = 630.
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.
