Hazer Group’s second-generation pilot plant boosts hydrogen and graphite production
A total of 40kg of graphite and 10kg of hydrogen has been produced from five initial test runs; with the largest haul from a single run being 12.4kg of graphite.
Low-emissions technology development company Hazer Group (ASX: HZR) has recorded nominal hydrogen and graphite production capacity targets of greater than 300% from initial test runs at a second generation fluid bed reactor (FBR) pre-pilot plant in Perth.
Focused on improving average production capacities and validating operations of the Hazer Process systems, the tests produced 10 kilograms of hydrogen, with the largest run producing 3kg of hydrogen.
Around 40kg of graphite was also produced, with the largest haul from a single run being 12.4kg of graphite.
While the hydrogen is vented along with the reaction tail gas, Hazer will use the graphite for downstream application and characterisation evaluation.
Significant production increase
The second generation FBR results represent a significant increase of over 650% of the maximum demonstrated production capacity of the first generation pilot plant, and nearly 300% of targeted capacities.
Acting chief executive Mark Edwards said the next stage of FBR testing will focus on optimising the purity of products over an extended period of operation.
“We now have a true pilot plant with a proven production capacity which is a relevant demonstration of [our] reactor technology,” he said.
“Even though the purities of the hydrogen and graphite products are already in commercial ranges, further optimisation will improve economics before they are post-purified using conventional systems.”
Low-emission technology
The Hazer Process is a low-emission hydrogen and graphite production process which enables the effective conversion of natural gas and similar feedstocks into hydrogen and high-quality graphite, using iron ore as a process catalyst.
Hazer is working to commercialise the technology, targeting opportunities in the global industrial hydrogen, clean hydrogen and energy, and synthetic graphite markets.
The company is evaluating development pathways to expedite commercialisation timelines for specific business case scenarios using the Hazer Process where the production of hydrogen is the primary objective.
Once second generation testing is complete, Hazer said it will progress to a planned demonstration plant, to include most ancillary plant functions to enable full system integration testing as well as further product and energy optimisation.
At midday, shares in Hazer Group were trading up 9.09% at $0.24.