Hycamite, a producer of hydrogen and carbon via the thermo-catalytic decomposition (TCD) of methane, has launched graphite production with a very low carbon footprint. Hycamite’s novel methane-splitting technology delivers low-carbon hydrogen and high-quality carbon products on an industrial scale. With advances in proprietary catalysts and process technology, Hycamite can now also offer graphite with a very low carbon footprint compared to conventionally produced synthetic graphite.

Hycamite’s graphite can be used in electric vehicle batteries. It’s suitable for direct use or further refinement based on the individual battery manufacturer’s needs.

—Niina Grönqvist, Hycamite’s vice president of carbon products

Hycamite‘s methane pyrolysis technology is based on years of research at the University of Oulu, Finland. The technology requires only 13% of the energy needed to produce hydrogen with electrolysis.

Hycamite’s technology helps decarbonize industries by providing low-carbon (turquoise) hydrogen and sustainable carbon products for demanding industrial applications. Hycamite’s technology decomposes large volumes of methane into its component elements—hydrogen and carbon—while avoiding the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Furthermore, Hycamite’s catalysts are sustainable as they are recyclable and can be produced from industrial side streams.

According to a life cycle assessment (LCA), using Hycamite’s carbon products can significantly lower GHG emissions when producing numerous carbon-containing products. The results showed Hycamite’s carbon footprint to be below 1 kg CO₂e/kg C for Hycamite‘s carbon as it comes out from the reactor.

While the Hycamite carbon LCA was focused on the climate change impact, there are also other negative environmental impacts when producing graphite with current methods.

For instance, synthetic graphite production can seriously damage the environment without significant protection investments. Manufacturing emits nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulates from baking the hydrocarbon feedstocks.

—Niina Grönqvist

Other high-value carbon products are electrically conductive, making them ideal for supercapacitors, electronics, electric cables, additives in polymers and even building elements made with composite materials or concrete. By using the range of its catalyst families and changing process parameters, Hycamite can tailor its high-value carbon products to customer needs and produce them industrially in very large quantities.

Hycamite is currently building its new Customer Sample Facility (CSF) in Kokkola, Finland. The facility is intended to demonstrate the viability of Hycamite’s new methane-splitting technology, and it will be the largest methane pyrolysis facility in Europe.

CSF’s nominal capacity will reach 2,000 tons of hydrogen and 6,000 tons of high-quality carbon per year once the project is fully completed. The decarbonization capacity of CSF can be up to 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year when liquefied natural gas is used, and with biomethane, carbon removals can also occur.