Hydrogen company announces $4.4 m research project on advanced carbon materials

Chemical engineering company Hazer (ASX:HZR) has gained $810,000 in funding to pursue applications for “advanced carbon materials” produced during its natural gas-to-hydrogen process.

The Innovative Manufacturing CRC grant will support further work with the University of Sydney’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, which began in 2016. The project will investigate applications of graphite in lithium ion batteries, water purification and lubricant additives. The total project is budgeted at $4.4 million for 2019 – 2022.

“This program will study and further develop our knowledge of the processes and conditions needed to produce high value graphite ACM including the processing and upgrading of such materials into high-value finished products,” said Hazer CTO and co-founder Dr Andrew Cornejo in a statement.

“The project will optimise and test ACMs at both laboratory and pilot plant scale in collaboration with specialist carbon processors and users, to identify and secure a range of markets for graphite ACM produced from future industrial sized Hazer plants.”

Hazer is a University of Western Australia spin-out that was formed in 2010 and was listed on the ASX in 2015. Its Hazer Process uses iron ore as a catalyst, and turns natural gases into low-emission hydrogen and graphite.

“This project is an excellent opportunity to convert the currently unutilised carbon materials produced in the Hazer process into high-value carbon products,” said Professor Yuan Chen from University of Sydney.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) recently announced $9.41 million in support for a project at Woodman Point Wastewater Plant in WA to turn sewage to hydrogen and graphite using Hazer’s technology. The plant is expected to be operational in early 2021 and produce 100 tonnes of hydrogen per annum.

Picture: the Hazer Process