EQTEC PLC (AIM:EQT) revealed to investors positive results from steam-oxygen gasification tests, which successfully converted mixed waste feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas) of high enough quality for use in biofuel applications.
The tests, carried out in collaboration with CompactGTL Limited, were aimed at evaluating EQTEC’s technology for converting complex materials such as plastics into renewable natural gas (RNG) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
CompactGTL chief executive Anar Asgarov described it as an encouraging step toward a commercially viable waste-to-liquid fuels solution.
"We are very pleased with the progress the joint venture is making in developing the pilot plant,” Asgarov said in a statement.
“The successful test results are a strong validation of the accuracy of EQTEC's simulation model, reinforcing our confidence in the technology's ability to convert complex waste into valuable biofuels.”
The tests were conducted at EQTEC's research facility at the Université de Lorraine in France and demonstrated that the company’s gasification process can handle complex feedstock, with feedstock tested including contaminated wood and refuse-derived fuel (RDF), which contained non-recyclable materials such as glass, ceramics, and flame-retardant compounds.
The process maintained stable gasification temperatures over 60 hours, leading to efficient feedstock conversion with low levels of pollutants.
EQTEC noted that its proprietary kinetic model also proved accurate, predicting the proportions of chemical elements in the syngas to within 0.1% to 2.5%. Data will be used to refine the company’s process for future applications.
Dr Yoel Aleman, EQTEC's chief technology officer, said the tests represent another important milestone on EQTEC's technology innovation roadmap.
“The development of a steam-oxygen gasification process is the key for the application of the syngas produced through EQTEC's technology to generate different high-value, in-demand commodities such as hydrogen, methane or other biofuels, from a wide range of waste feedstocks including RDF, plastics and others,” Aleman said.
“As the demand increases for highly efficient and clean conversion facilities for hydrogen, RNG and advanced biofuels, and as Industrial clients, utility companies and waste managers look for scalable, local-to-local solutions, EQTEC's capabilities with steam-oxygen gasification will allow us to offer a range of solutions that fit a variety of business models."