Nanotechnology holds amazing promise for many new green technologies, including the emissions controls which will allow the internal combustion engine to meet upcoming standards and the lithium ion batteries which threaten to make those same engines obsolete. There are many issues holding nano-tech back, though, not the least of which is the high price associated with the production of such tiny materials. So, when we read that Catalyx Nanotech, Inc. plans to begin mass production of Platelet Graphite Nanofibers (PGNF) at a price point which is said to be cost-competitive with current production standards, our interest was piqued. According to the accompanying press release, Catalyx Nano "also plans to produce nano powders of polymers, ceramics and precious/transition metal catalysts in powder and alcohol/aqueous suspensions."
There is another green angle to the announcement of the new nano-tech plants. These proposed plants will be built near landfills and are to run on methane gas waste. Sounds like a win-win scenario to us.
Press Release:
Catalyx Nanotech Begins Commercial Nanomaterials Production at Lower Cost
Constructing Expanded Capacity California Plant
Catalyx Nanotech, Inc., (Catalyx Nano) has begun manufacturing Platelet Graphite Nanofibers (PGNF) at a fraction of competitors' costs on a small commercial scale, with current production capacity at 250-500 Kg per year. Its production facility in Burnaby, BC, Canada, is currently producing 300 kg per year of each nanomaterial. Due to demand, Catalyx Nano (www.catalyxnano.com) is constructing a 35 ton/year capacity nanomaterials plant in Anaheim, California, which is scheduled for completion in late 2008. The company also plans to produce nano powders of polymers, ceramics and precious/transition metal catalysts in powder and alcohol/aqueous suspensions.
Nanomaterial Prices Comparable to High-Grade Graphite
Catalyx Nano is producing high-purity, high-performance PGNF at prices comparable to high-grade graphite -- with pricing approximately 50-80% less than competing nanomaterials, while delivering consistent, superior quality product that exponentially out-performs high-grade graphite.
"The major hurdle in the large scale deployment of nanomaterials has been the cost," said Juzer Jangbarwala, Catalyx Nanotech Founder and CEO. "We believe we have eliminated this hurdle by using low cost feedstock and obtaining virtually 100% yields of high purity materials in a single step. By making our carbon and graphite nanomaterials available at prices comparable to high quality graphite we enable customers to make higher quality, more affordable products."
Catalyx Nano is able to achieve low cost production by utilizing key manufacturing patents licensed from Catalytic Materials, LLC (CML) for the simplified cracking of methane to elemental carbon and hydrogen with no byproducts. Two key patents focus on use of a unique bi-metallic catalyst to crack the methane to produce soot free, 100% pure, structured platelet carbon nanofibers that have been proven to give exceptional performance as catalyst supports, electrodes for Li ion batteries, wastewater treatment media and gas separation media.
Reducing Carbon Footprint
Catalyx Nano intends to install manufacturing plants at landfills to convert the produced methane gas into two useful materials: elemental carbon, which will be transformed into nanomaterials, and hydrogen, a valuable fuel source. Catalyx Nano will be creating a three-pronged decrease in greenhouse gases by eliminating the greenhouse gases resulting from 1) landfills burning off their methane and 2) those typically generated during hydrogen production, as well as 3) the reduction in greenhouse gases realized when hydrogen replaces other hydrocarbons as a fuel source.
Making Green Technologies Economically Viable
"A myriad of environmentally friendly applications for PGNF have not previously been economically viable due to their high cost," said Juzer Jangbarwala, CEO of Catalyx Nano. "Our unique production technology enables us to create a cost-effective commoditized carbon nanofibers that may help advance numerous green technologies, such as Li ion batteries and certain types of wastewater treatment and gas separation, by making them economically viable.
Catalyx Nano's PGNF have been proven to be excellent nanoparticle fillers for strength, electrical conductivity and catalyst supports. The PGNF product can be pre-treated, pre-conditioned or loaded with catalysts for customers.
To assist in the exploration of nanomaterials applications, Catalyx Nano provides applications test services for its clients under confidentiality agreements in its applications lab at its Burnaby, BC, Canada location.
About Catalyx Nanotech
Catalyx Nanotech, Inc., was formed in 2007 with the vision to provide the world with high purity, exceptional nanomaterials at costs comparable to current high-grade materials used by various industries. Catalyx Nano manufactures nanomaterials cost effectively on a commercial scale using process optimization and licensed, patented technologies. It currently produces 100% pure Platelet Graphite Nanofibers that have been proven to deliver exceptional performance in a wide variety of applications. Further information is available at www.catalyxnano.com.
[Source: Catalyx Nanotech, Inc.]
There is another green angle to the announcement of the new nano-tech plants. These proposed plants will be built near landfills and are to run on methane gas waste. Sounds like a win-win scenario to us.
Press Release:
Catalyx Nanotech Begins Commercial Nanomaterials Production at Lower Cost
Constructing Expanded Capacity California Plant
Catalyx Nanotech, Inc., (Catalyx Nano) has begun manufacturing Platelet Graphite Nanofibers (PGNF) at a fraction of competitors' costs on a small commercial scale, with current production capacity at 250-500 Kg per year. Its production facility in Burnaby, BC, Canada, is currently producing 300 kg per year of each nanomaterial. Due to demand, Catalyx Nano (www.catalyxnano.com) is constructing a 35 ton/year capacity nanomaterials plant in Anaheim, California, which is scheduled for completion in late 2008. The company also plans to produce nano powders of polymers, ceramics and precious/transition metal catalysts in powder and alcohol/aqueous suspensions.
Nanomaterial Prices Comparable to High-Grade Graphite
Catalyx Nano is producing high-purity, high-performance PGNF at prices comparable to high-grade graphite -- with pricing approximately 50-80% less than competing nanomaterials, while delivering consistent, superior quality product that exponentially out-performs high-grade graphite.
"The major hurdle in the large scale deployment of nanomaterials has been the cost," said Juzer Jangbarwala, Catalyx Nanotech Founder and CEO. "We believe we have eliminated this hurdle by using low cost feedstock and obtaining virtually 100% yields of high purity materials in a single step. By making our carbon and graphite nanomaterials available at prices comparable to high quality graphite we enable customers to make higher quality, more affordable products."
Catalyx Nano is able to achieve low cost production by utilizing key manufacturing patents licensed from Catalytic Materials, LLC (CML) for the simplified cracking of methane to elemental carbon and hydrogen with no byproducts. Two key patents focus on use of a unique bi-metallic catalyst to crack the methane to produce soot free, 100% pure, structured platelet carbon nanofibers that have been proven to give exceptional performance as catalyst supports, electrodes for Li ion batteries, wastewater treatment media and gas separation media.
Reducing Carbon Footprint
Catalyx Nano intends to install manufacturing plants at landfills to convert the produced methane gas into two useful materials: elemental carbon, which will be transformed into nanomaterials, and hydrogen, a valuable fuel source. Catalyx Nano will be creating a three-pronged decrease in greenhouse gases by eliminating the greenhouse gases resulting from 1) landfills burning off their methane and 2) those typically generated during hydrogen production, as well as 3) the reduction in greenhouse gases realized when hydrogen replaces other hydrocarbons as a fuel source.
Making Green Technologies Economically Viable
"A myriad of environmentally friendly applications for PGNF have not previously been economically viable due to their high cost," said Juzer Jangbarwala, CEO of Catalyx Nano. "Our unique production technology enables us to create a cost-effective commoditized carbon nanofibers that may help advance numerous green technologies, such as Li ion batteries and certain types of wastewater treatment and gas separation, by making them economically viable.
Catalyx Nano's PGNF have been proven to be excellent nanoparticle fillers for strength, electrical conductivity and catalyst supports. The PGNF product can be pre-treated, pre-conditioned or loaded with catalysts for customers.
To assist in the exploration of nanomaterials applications, Catalyx Nano provides applications test services for its clients under confidentiality agreements in its applications lab at its Burnaby, BC, Canada location.
About Catalyx Nanotech
Catalyx Nanotech, Inc., was formed in 2007 with the vision to provide the world with high purity, exceptional nanomaterials at costs comparable to current high-grade materials used by various industries. Catalyx Nano manufactures nanomaterials cost effectively on a commercial scale using process optimization and licensed, patented technologies. It currently produces 100% pure Platelet Graphite Nanofibers that have been proven to deliver exceptional performance in a wide variety of applications. Further information is available at www.catalyxnano.com.
[Source: Catalyx Nanotech, Inc.]
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