How it works

Recycling 100% of CO₂ emissions from industrial point-source emitters

HYCO1’s CO₂ conversion plants are located adjacent to or near the industrial CO₂ source. They can be sized from 500 to 5,000 tons per day based on the amount of CO₂ being emitted. HYCO1 plants scale to any size of CO₂ feedgas.

Once the HYCO1 conversion plant is built, the industrial host diverts 100% of the CO₂ to HYCO1’s plant where it is processed into building block chemical gases (hydrogen and carbon monoxide). These building block gases are then converted into low CI score, high-value chemicals which fully sequester the carbon into high-value products that the world needs and uses.

Pure streams of building block chemicals: hydrogen and carbon monoxide

Using a breakthrough catalyst, which we’ll explain in a moment, we turn CO₂ waste into high-value products. HYCO1’s catalyst converts 1 mole of CO₂ and 1 mole of CH4 into 2 moles of H2 and 2 moles of CO.

The catalyst is non-coking, converts 95+% of CO₂ per pass, and has a lowered energy of activation.

Hydrogen and Carbon monoxide are the building block gases that are needed for many downstream, high-value products including:

Base lubricating oils (Group IV alternatives)
High-melt paraffin waxes and specialty solvents
Methanol, Ammonia, Acetic Acid and other high volume commodity chemicals
Sustainable aviation fuels
Renewable Diesel fuel

We don’t just process the CO₂…
We make the products, too!

Not only can our technology capture and convert emissions into valuable building-block chemicals, we also use these gases to make downstream products too. All with our closed-loop, vertically integrated plant, and all on our nickel.

Our closed-loop vertically integrated plants turn H2 and CO into various products such as…

High-melt paraffin wax

High-melt paraffin waxes have superior properties which make them ideal for use in a wide range of products including pharma, personal care, food, packaging, and technical applications.

Synthetic lubricating oils (Group IV alternatives)

Our precision-engineered base lubricating oils are the answer to the future of the entire automotive industry. Whether the vehicle is all electric or a hybrid, all new autos will need fully synthetic base oil to achieve increasing mileage goals and overall vehicle performance.

Specialty Solvents

The synthesized fluids we create have a dependable consistency, are contaminant-free, high purity, and rapidly biodegradable. There is a vast array of applications for these solvents. They can be used in paints, cosmetics, household products, metal cutting, sealants, and much more.

Renewable Jet & Diesel Fuel

Our process can also competitively produce low-CI score Sustainable Aviation fuel (SAF) and Renewable Diesel fuel (RD).

The possibilities are limitless!

Because we produce the chemical building blocks H2 and CO, we can build an endless variety of low CI products!

Turning Negative into Positive

Carbon taxes on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are all but certain because unabated emissions are expected to result in disastrous climate changes. So, it’s not a question of IF but WHEN carbon taxes are imposed. When they happen, industrial point-source emitters will pay $30, $50, or perhaps as much as $100 per ton of emitted CO₂.

HYCO1 can turn these looming negatives into planet positive outcomes that require no out-of-pocket cost to industrial customers. In addition to avoiding carbon taxes, industrial customers who engage HYCO1 will end up with a lower carbon intensity score on their core products.

Leaves Zero Residue

Our patent-pending non-coking process converts 100% of carbon emissions without leaving anything behind like most other solutions do.

No Noble Metals

Most catalysts are expensive because they have to use noble metals. We are able to use common and affordable metals.

Low Energy Process

HYCO1’s catalytic process requires only a little more heat than conventional SMR technology. We also capture and export all excess heat for use. HYCO1 is a CO₂ emissions free process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What We Do

What does HYCO1 do?

HYCO1 uses a breakthrough catalyst to convert industrial scale CO2 emissions into low CI score, high value products.

What Makes HYCO1 a Breakthrough Technology?

Why is HYCO1’s catalyst and process considered breakthrough technology?

There are six main reasons that HYCO1 represents breakthrough technology:

The catalyst is remarkably non-coking which means it lasts a long time
The catalyst is made from lower cost, base metals not from expensive noble metals
The catalyst drops into conventional hydrogen plant designs
The process is super effective at over 95% CO2 conversion per pass
The process requires a relatively low amount of energy to activate the catalyst
The process results in very low cost building block gases (H2 and CO)

Has the HYCO1 team developed any other successful catalysts?

Yes, several, including H2 reforming, Fischer Tropsch gas to liquids and renewable diesel isomerization.

The Industries We Target

Many industrial processes emit large quantities of CO2 so what industries is HYCO1 targeting?

We are targeting commercial and industrial customers that produce and emit at least 180,000 tons of CO2 per year (>500 TPD).

Initial target industries include:

Steel
Methanol
Ammonia
Ethanol
Aluminum
Magnesium
Specialty chemicals
Petrochemicals

Later target industries include:

Cement
Power

How Our Technology Works

Is there a simple equation that describes the HYCO1 process?

1 CO2 + 1 CH4 ==> 2 H2 + 2 CO

Is CH4 (methane) used in the HYCO1 process? If so, how?

Yes, CH4 is an important chemical feedgas. It is used as a reactant in HYCO1’s process – not burned.

CH4 is converted alongside CO2 into building block gases of H2 and CO.

The CH4 can be renewable (RNG or biogas) or pipeline quality natural gas.

Is the HYCO1 process a continuous process?

Yes, continuous at 98% forecasted onstream time.

Does the CO2 used in the HYCO1 process have to be pure? What purity can the process work at?

The HYCO1 process can work with a range of CO2 concentrations. Many industrial plants are required as part of their air permit to capture and concentrate the CO2 before it is emitted. For the HYCO1 process, the purer the CO2 being emitted, the better, but the process can work well at 75% purity or higher.

For industrial plant CO2 purity below 75%, HYCO1 licenses a leading CO2 capture and concentration technology to purify the CO2 prior to the HYCO1 conversion process.

Is the HYCO1 catalyst heterogeneous?

Yes

Is the HYCO1 catalyst a solid?

Yes

What is the approximate size of a single catalyst particle?

About the size of a typical ibuprofen or aspirin tablet.

Is the proprietary catalyst a metals-based catalyst?

Yes, it is made of lower cost base metals (not exotic high cost noble metals).

Does the HYCO1 process produce products directly from CO2 or are there intermediate products that are then converted into finished products?

HYCO1 conversion plants first convert the CO2 into two building block gases: hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO).

In some industries such as Ammonia and Methanol, H2 and CO can be used directly in the manufacturing process. No additional processing of the H2 and CO is needed.

In other industries such as Ammonia, Methanol, and Specialty Chemicals, H2 and CO are used as building block chemical gases.

Syngas is also used to produce Specialty GTL products to produce Specialty GTL products such as base lube oils, waxes, specialty solvents, and sustainable fuels such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Does the HYCO1 process result in the permanent sequestration of carbon? If so, how?

Yes. For some host customers (e.g. Ammonia and Methanol producers) 100% of the low CI score H2 and CO can be used directly in the production process in the form of low CI score feed gases. The carbon is utilized and sequestered in the finished product.

Yes. For other host customers, 100% of the CO and H2 are used in the production process of downstream products such as Specialty GTL products which include base lube oils, waxes, specialty solvents, and sustainable fuels such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

What is the expected catalyst regeneration interval?

The early runtime tests on the catalyst show promise that it will have a life of multiple years – typical for other H2 catalysts developed by the HYCO1 team. There is no evidence thus far that would suggest or imply a short catalyst life.