By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : March 06, 2018 8:18 pm
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a key patent to the company related to its advanced FeNIX nanocatalyst accelerator technology.
QuantumSphere, a leading producer of advanced catalyst technologies designed to improve production efficiencies in large-scale industrial chemical processes, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a key patent to the company related to its advanced FeNIX nanocatalyst accelerator technology. U.S. Patent Number 9,272,920 covers claims relating to the application of iron nanocatalysts, applied as a coating onto existing commercial ammonia catalysts, for increased catalytic activity and production efficiency in ammonia synthesis.
“We are very pleased that the USPTO has issued this patent which further strengthens our market position to improve production efficiencies in large-scale chemical plants. Our growing intellectual property portfolio, now consisting of ten issued patents, protects our proprietary nanocatalyst manufacturing process as well as the commercial end-use application in ammonia synthesis," Kevin Maloney, President and CEO of QuantumSphere, stated.
Ammonia is one of the world's most critical industrial chemicals, accounting for nearly $100 billion in annual production. Over 80 percent of ammonia produced is used in agricultural fertilizers for global food production, indirectly supplying more than 50 percent of all protein consumed by humans. The demand for ammonia is expected to increase as the global population grows.
“One key advantage of the FeNIX nanocatalyst coating is that we are enhancing, not replacing, existing technologies all in the form of a drop-in solution that requires no capital expenditure. By increasing the performance of standard commercial catalyst, we offer a competitive advantage to our partners. This means that we are partnering with – not competing with – key industry players," said Matthew Griffith, QuantumSphere's Vice President of Operations.
Due to superior physical characteristics, including extremely high surface area, QuantumSphere's FeNIX iron nanocatalyst accelerator coating significantly increases catalytic activity, leading to improved production efficiencies by reducing energy costs or increasing production output.
The production of ammonia is an energy-intensive process that consumes approximately 5 percent of the world's natural gas supply. According to industry experts, a 5 percent increase in catalytic activity can translate into millions of dollars in additional profits annually for ammonia plant owners and operators. Commercial validation tests in early 2015 by QuantumSphere and a partner demonstrated a 10 to 15 percent increase in catalytic activity and production output – with no modifications to the ammonia production facilities.
QuantumSphere is collaborating on initial commercialization of FeNIX with 95 year-old Swiss- based industry leader and strategic partner, Casale, S.A. FeNIX commercialization is expected in the second half of 2016. Casale supplies the reactor converter technology responsible for producing nearly 40 percent of the world's ammonia and methanol.
QuantumSphere previously announced the Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Number 9,272,920 on January 27, 2016.