MONTREAL, Canada — HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: HPQ) (OTCQB: HPQFF) (FRA: 8PY1), a technology company driving innovation in advanced materials and critical process development, is pleased to inform shareholders that it has received new results from a leading global fumed silica manufacturer (“LGFSM”) regarding the evaluation of materials produced during Phase 1 Test #5.
MILESTONES: FIRST PRODUCTION OF MATERIAL UNDER SEMI-CONTINUOUS FEEDSTOCK FEEDING PROTOCOL
Technology supplier, PyroGenesis Inc. (TSX: PYR, OTCQX: PYRGF, FRA: 8PY1) has informed the Company that, in addition to successfully replicating the production and collection of material in the dedicated product recovery unit (commonly referred to as the “baghouse”), HPQ Silica Polvere Inc.’s (HSPI) proprietary Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR) pilot plant operated under a semi-continuous feeding approach during Phase 1 Test #5 — two key steps in advancing the FSR toward commercial validation.
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ACHIEVED IN THE PURITY AND QUALITY OF FUMED SILICA PRODUCED
Material analysis conducted by the Leading Global Fumed Silica Manufacturer (LGFSM) confirmed several notable improvements in the fumed silica produced during Phase 1 Test #5 compared to Test #4:
- Carbon-based impurities were reduced by 85%.
- Other impurities were significantly lowered, with reductions ranging from 50% to 86%.
- Material surface area increased by 57%, indicating a substantial enhancement in product performance characteristics.
“Taken together, the results from Phase 1 tests 4 and 5, along with operational data from the three earlier tests, validate the successful 20-fold scale-up of the Fumed Silica Reactor—from lab to pilot scale, and from batch to semi-continuous production,” said Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon and HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. “These results confirm that key material properties can be reliably reproduced and even improved at larger scale, establishing a solid foundation for future process optimization.”
PHASE 2 TESTING TO FOCUS ON ADVANCING MATERIAL SURFACE AREA PERFORMANCE
With the successful validation of process replicability at pilot scale, testing is now progressing into Phase 2, which will focus on further improving the material’s surface area. The upcoming tests aim to produce fumed silica materials with BET surface areas up to 300 m²/g.
“Having overcome the key technical challenges to reach this Phase 1 completion milestone, we believe the remaining steps—specifically achieving the targeted surface area range with the FSR—are now well within reach,” added Mr. Tourillon.
Image 1) Material produced and collected in the baghouse, during Phase 1 Test #5, and sent to the leading global fumed silica manufacturer under the LOI.
Image 1) Matériau produit et collecté dans le filtre à manches, lors du test de phase 1 n° 5, et envoyé au premier fabricant mondial de silice pyrogénée dans le cadre de la LOI.
“With Phase 1 testing successfully completed, we now look forward to the launch of Phase 2 with great anticipation,” added Mr. Tourillon.
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.
