Stopford and AESI team up to commercialize waste-to-syngas technology

Stopford and Advanced Extraction Systems Inc. are advancing PLASMERGY™, a microwave-induced plasma gasification system that turns difficult industrial waste into hydrogen-rich syngas, heat and potential feedstocks. The companies are testing the technology in Prince Edward Island as they look to move it from lab work to industrial deployment.

Why it matters: - PLASMERGY™ aims to cut disposal costs for industrial operators by converting hard-to-treat waste into usable energy and feedstocks. - The technology could help companies reduce landfill reliance, lower transportation needs and support decarbonisation goals. - The Canadian oil sands sector is a key potential market because it generates difficult carbonaceous waste streams that are costly to manage.

What happened: - Stopford and Advanced Extraction Systems Inc. (AESI) are working together to accelerate development and commercial deployment of PLASMERGY™. - PLASMERGY™ is a microwave-induced plasma gasification technology designed to convert difficult industrial waste streams into hydrogen-rich syngas, recoverable heat and potential chemical feedstocks. - Ongoing development and testing are taking place at AESI's facility in Prince Edward Island, Canada. - The companies are seeking collaboration with organisations interested in potential applications across energy, petrochemical, manufacturing and waste-management sectors.

The details: - Stopford is contributing expertise in developing and scaling emerging process technologies. - AESI is providing engineering, manufacturing and process development capabilities. - The technology targets petroleum residues, refinery sludges, contaminated organic materials and other carbonaceous by-products. - PLASMERGY™ uses a high-temperature, microwave-induced plasma gasification process to break waste materials down at a molecular level. - The process produces a synthesis gas primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. - Depending on project requirements, the syngas can be used for heat and power generation or processed further to produce hydrogen and other chemical feedstocks. - Potential outputs include hydrogen-rich syngas, recoverable heat and chemical feedstocks for downstream processing. - Additional downstream technologies could convert the syngas into higher-value products, including hydrogen and synthetic fuels. - The modular system is being developed for deployment alongside existing industrial facilities. - Each module has a nominal processing capacity of up to 1,000 tonnes of waste material per year. - Operators can add more units as demand grows. - The design is intended for energy, petrochemical, manufacturing and waste-management applications. - The system is being developed to maximise recovery and use of energy generated during gasification. - Recoverable heat and hydrogen-rich syngas may be integrated back into host operations to improve resource efficiency and energy recovery. - The technology has progressed through laboratory development and testing in simulated operating environments. - Stopford and AESI are now advancing toward field deployment and industrial application.

Between the lines: - The partnership is trying to bridge the gap between lab-scale validation and industrial use, which is often the hardest step for process technologies. - Interest in onsite or near-source waste treatment suggests a push toward more circular industrial operations. - The focus on the oil sands sector underscores where the largest near-term waste-management pain points may exist. - Prith Rajendran, managing director of Stopford, said PLASMERGY™ could turn multi-million-dollar waste liabilities into an asset. - Al Goodwin, COO of AESI, said the Prince Edward Island work is helping the partners refine the process and demonstrate its potential on difficult waste streams.

What's next: - Stopford and AESI plan to continue refining the technology and assessing integration opportunities. - The partners will evaluate PLASMERGY™ performance across real-world industrial waste challenges. - The companies are looking for industry collaborators to explore pilot or commercial applications. - Stopford and AESI want to work directly with operators to prove value in real-world applications. - Organisations interested in PLASMERGY™ are encouraged to contact Stopford's Prith Rajendran or AESI's Al Goodwin to discuss collaboration opportunities. - Stopford also provided a LinkedIn page for more information: Stopford on LinkedIn