HPQ’s fumed silica reactor slashes CO2 emissions in production
by CM Staff
HPQ announces that based on recent results published, the reactor technology is poised to achieve a reduction of over 50% in direct CO2 equivalent emissions associated with fumed silica production.
HPQ’s fumed silica reactor slashes CO2 emissions in production
MONTREAL — HPQ Silicon Inc., a technology company specializing in green engineering processes for silica and silicon material production, provided an update on the environmental benefits of the Fumed Silica Reactor currently being developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary, HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. (HPQ Polvere), in collaboration with technology provider PyroGenesis Canada Inc.
HPQ announces that based on recent results published, the reactor technology is poised to achieve a reduction of over 50% in direct CO2 equivalent emissions associated with fumed silica production, surpassing conventional industry practices.
Conventional fumed silica manufacturing processes rely on Silicon Metal (Si) as a feedstock, involving complex steps, high energy consumption, hazardous materials, and Hydrogen Chloride Gas (HCI) production as by-product. These processes result in a carbon footprint of 9.5 tonnes (t) CO2 e/t of fumed silica ± 2.5 t CO2 e, with over 60% of emissions stemming from the use of silicon metal.
By contrast, the HPQ Polvere Fumed Silica Reactor enables a direct transformation of quartz into fumed silica, eliminating the need for the conventional carbothermic process to convert quartz into silicon metal.
“The Fumed Silica Reactor developed by HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. perfectly embodies HPQ commitment to green engineering processes. We are dedicated to developing innovative processes that minimize the environmental footprint while meeting the material demands of the industry, ” said Mr. Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon and HPQ Silica Polvere. “This release specifically highlights the direct CO2 emissions reductions achieved by the Reactor and does not encompass the additional substantial indirect environmental benefits. This includes an impressive reduction of at least 86% in energy requirements for fumed silica production. Work to date strongly suggests the potential for HPQ Polvere to develop commercial grade fumed silica with greatly reduced carbon footprints relative to today’s commercially available technologies.”
