- PyroGenesis (TSX:PYR) successfully produced battery-grade carbon black and hydrogen using its proprietary plasma torch systems, including both natural gas and methane-based models
- The plasma technology company specializes in advanced engineering solutions to energy, propulsion, waste destruction, process heating, emissions and materials development challenges across heavy industry and defense
- PyroGenesis stock is flat year-over-year and has given back 92.82 per cent since 2021
PyroGenesis (TSX:PYR) successfully produced battery-grade carbon black and hydrogen using its proprietary plasma torch systems, including both natural gas and methane-based models.
This content has been prepared as part of a partnership with PyroGenesis Inc. and is intended for informational purposes only. The author owns shares in the company, but has not been paid by PyroGenesis Inc. or any third party for this article.
Carbon black‘s utility extends across industries, including plastics, coatings, printing inks and conductive technologies, with the material helping batteries increase energy density and dissipate heat, while making up about 25-30 per cent of a vehicle tire, enhancing durability by conducting heat away from the tread. Collectively, Carbon black’s use-cases represent a US$24.5 billion global market expected to surpass US$36 billion by 2033.
PyroGenesis’ process, vetted by an independent lab, and completed without the need for additives or a secondary feedstock, makes the company the first to use hydrocarbon (methane/natural gas) as both a plasma-forming gas and a primary feedstock in the production of solid carbon and hydrogen.
The company met this milestone as part of an ongoing deal, announced in September 2024, with a Canadian company exploring new ways of putting carbon to commercial use. The DC plasma system that resulted from this research is expected to simplify logistics and lower capital and construction costs compared to conventional hydrogen and carbon black production processes.
Looking ahead, the companies are evaluating the potential to produce additional materials and usher them to commercial scale, including integrating hydrogen into the gas grid.
Leadership commentary
“This achievement where plasma is the primary and sole feedstock paves the way to a more efficient and environmentally friendly production process for two extremely in-demand materials at high-quality levels,” P. Peter Pascali, president and chief executive officer of PyroGenesis, said in Tuesday’s news release. “Carbon black is one of the most important commodities worldwide and is in the top 50 industrial chemicals manufactured worldwide based on annual tonnage. It comprises 25-30 per cent of vehicle tires. While its use in rubber represents its largest use, carbon black of the quality required for use in batteries is difficult to produce. We have achieved this level with our innovative process, which is also cleaner and simpler. Compared to the conventional ‘furnace black’ or ‘thermal black’ production processes, which rely on the combustion or thermal decomposition of heavy hydrocarbon residues, such as petroleum oils or coal tar, the approach developed by PyroGenesis is combustion-free, emission-free, additive-free and, most importantly, secondary feedstock-free. It also provides unique optionality, allowing for the use of plasma torches powered by either methane or natural gas, the latter of which is generally considered more challenging in the production of carbon black due to its more complex and variable composition.”
About PyroGenesis
PyroGenesis is a plasma technology company specializing in advanced engineering solutions to energy, propulsion, waste destruction, process heating, emissions and materials development challenges across heavy industry and defense. Its client include governments, militaries and top aluminum, aerospace, steel, iron ore, utilities and environmental services companies across the world.
PyroGenesis stock (TSX:PYR) last traded at C$0.45, remaining flat year-over-year, while giving back 92.82 per cent since 2021.
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