First Graphene (FGR) has announced it has signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Abu Dhabi-headquartered integrated services provider EMDAD Group (EMDAD).
The agreement brings the parties together to collaboratively develop and provide a proposal to fund, design, build and commission a small scale, hydrodynamic cavitation reactor using First Graphene’s Kainos Technology. The proposal will ultimately lead to the commissioning of a reactor that will convert petroleum feedstock from oil producers to battery grade graphite, graphene and hydrogen.
FGR acquired patents to Hydrodynamic Cavitation Technology – known as Kainos Technology – in October 2021, following a successful partnership with UK-based research and development group, Kainos Innovation Limited.
A UK Government Sustainable Innovation Grant received by the partnership progressed R&D that confirmed Kainos Technology directly converts low-cost hydrocarbon feedstocks to graphene materials and hydrogen gas.
Since acquiring the patents, First Graphene has been pursuing commercialization of the technology through application to the oil and gas sector, where its ability to generate alternative energy sources as well as synthetic graphitic materials will assist the industry’s transition goals.
A stated outcome of the new MOU is that the parties will jointly develop and submit a proposal to Abu Dhabi’s State- owned oil company to fund the design, build and commissioning of a small-scale mobile reactor. EMDAD has been providing integrated upstream and downstream technology solutions to the UAE oil sector for more than 40 years, with a growing focus on minimizing environmental impact and helping companies work towards net zero ambitions.
First Graphene's Managing Director and CEO, Michael Bell, said: “We acquired Kainos Technology knowing there were industries of enormous and growing scale to benefit from its application – the energy and electric vehicle sectors among them. EMDAD’s reach into the Middle Eastern and global energy market is immense, as is the growing demand for synthetic graphitic materials essential to assisting the energy transition. Having a strategic partner like EMDAD come on board with a scope to develop and trial a pilot reactor will allow FGR to flex its IP muscle and provide a strong demonstration of the opportunity oil
producers have to reduce their carbon footprint. Bringing Kainos Technology to life and assisting decarbonization efforts through hydrogen and graphitic material production will attract more investment in technology development.”
EMDAD Director of Agencies, Sujeendran, said: “EMDAD is excited to partner with First Graphene for its innovative Kainos Technology development that could help the UAE in achieving environmental, sustainability and decarbonization goals.”