HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. Achieves Significant Scaling Milestones
- 9,000% Increase in Bench Test sample size- 300% Increase in Capacity of Lab Scale PUREVAP(tm) Reactor
January 26, 2017 - HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. ("HPQ") (TSX Venture: HPQ) is pleased to inform its shareholders that PyroGenesis Canada Inc ("PyroGenesis") has submitted a new stage report entitled "Update on The PUREVAP Process Characterization Testing Phase" pertaining to 36 of 50 tests completed to date. The findings are significant in that they demonstrate the success of bench scale test work in scaling up the process of converting low purity feedstock into higher purity silicon metal.
Bernard Tourillon, Chairman and CEO of HPQ-Silicon stated, "Demonstrating the scalability, at lab scale, of the PUREVAPtm QRR process in a repeatable and predictable manner while obtaining consistent purity results of 99.9+% (3N+)1 Si using 98.14% or less (1N) SiO2 feedstock, represents yet another important technical milestones in in our progress toward production of High Purity Silicon metal. At this stage of our development, we have passed the critical milestones of consistently increasing sample size and now work will focus on improving the purity of the final product. This 'iterative' approach of incrementally increasing size, and purity step by step will continue and has so far been highly successful".
TESTING CONFIRMS LAB SCALE SCALABILITY OF PUREVAP(TM) QRR PROCESS
The report confirms the scalability of the Process, explaining that in order to improve the yield of High Purity Silicon Metal (99.9+% Si) produced per batch, the lab-scale PUREVAPtm QRR reactor was successfully modified and capacity scaled up by a factor of 3 (300%). As a result, yield went from less than 0.1 g to 8.8 g (test #32), an increase of approximately 9,000% (hundredfold).
Of significant interest is the fact that all these results were obtained using lower purity feedstock (98.14% or less SiO2) than used by the Silicon Metal industry to produce Metallurgical Grade Silicon Metal (98.5% Si). Moreover, the results suggest that HPQ PUREVAP(TM) QRR PROCESS is the only process in the world that can systematically produce Silicon Metal of a purity above 3N+ (99.9+% Si) from sub-standard purity feed quartz.
"We are extremely pleased with the progress to date," said Pierre Carabin, CTO of PyroGenesis. "Our ability to increase capacity by a factor of nearly hundredfold in such a short time gives us great confidence in scaling up the process to the 200 TPY pilot phase".
INCREASING PURITY TO SOLAR GRADE SI (5N+) NOW BECOMES KEY FOCUS IN FINAL 14 TESTS
During the Proof of Concept phase, only high-purity quartz (99.97% SiO2) was used, while low-purity quartz (maximum 98.4%) was used for the other 36 tests. Moving forward, some tests will be conducted using higher purity feed stock (99.5% SiO2) in order to study the effect of reducing impurity at the source.
Test 19 confirmed that by adding a solid purifying agent into the feedstock, the production of 4N+ purity Silicon Metal (99.99+% Si)2 using 98.14% SiO2 was reachable. The engineering team at Pyrogenesis will continue to evaluate results and make process modifications to the PUREVAP(TM) QRR therefore allowing us to find the optimal purification process.
"Producing Solar Grade Silicon Metal remains our primary objective. For the remaining 14 tests, our intention is to focus solely on improving purity, with a goal of producing minimum 5N Si material," said Tourillon. "In addition, PyroGenesis will also test an alternative route to higher purity during the ongoing test work."
The R&D lab testing is still ongoing and the project is on schedule for end of February 2017 completion. By the end of the Process Characterization phase, PyroGenesis expects to have conducted 50 laboratory scale experiments. The data collected during the Process Characterization phase is being used for the Pilot Scale design, which is also currently underway.
VISUALIZING RAMP UP YIELD - RESULTS FROM TEST #24 - 32
Figure 1 - Small bead produced during test #24
Click Image To View Full Size
Figure 2 - Series of chunks produced during test #32
Pierre Carabin, Eng., M. Eng., has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.
About HPQ Silicon
HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. is a TSX-V listed junior exploration company planning to become a vertically integrated and diversified High Value Silicon Metal (99.9+% Si), and Solar Grade Silicon Metal (99.999+% Si) producer.
Our business model is focused on developing a disruptive High Purity and Solar Grade Silicon Metal manufacturing process (patent pending) and becoming a vertically - integrated High Value Silicon Metal and Solar Grade Silicon producer that can generate high yield returns and significant free cash flow within a relatively short time line.
Disclaimers:
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information contact
Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman and CEO Tel (514) 907-1011
Patrick Levasseur, President and COO Tel: (514) 262-9239
www.HPQSilicon.com
1 Analyses completed at the << Centre de Caracterisation Microscopique des Materiaux >> (CM2), located at the Ecole Polytechnique de
Montreal using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) associated with a Wavelength-Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS)
2
Please refer to HPQ -Silicon Resources Inc November 29, 2016 press releases
Copyright (c) 2017 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.