Developing a sustainable carbon capture solution for heavy industry

Expanding anorthosite product lines through carbon capture innovation 

AnorTech has announced a joint research project with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to develop alumina-based catalysts for efficient CO₂ capture. In this interview, AnorTech’s CEO, Jim Cambon, shares why this partnership is an important step for AnorTech and how it could contribute to industrial decarbonization in future. 

Q: Jim, why is this research and development project significant for AnorTech? 

A: This catalyst project is an opportunity to work directly with the Canadian government to explore the potential development of a low-cost solution to carbon capture. Our business model involves working with leading industry and government partners where possible to advance our anorthosite product lines, and this collaboration clearly supports our model. 

AnorTech’s vision is to be the leader in the development of sustainable and innovative products made from anorthosite, and this collaboration is aligned with that vision. By advancing several applications toward commercialization, we aim to strengthen the strategic position of the company.  

Q: How did the partnership between AnorTech and one of Canada’s leading research organizations come about?  

A: Over the past year, AnorTech has provided the NRC with several alumina samples made using our proprietary process from our Gronne Bjerg anorthosite deposit. These samples were produced to varying specifications for the NRC’s program aimed at developing catalysts that capture CO₂ and convert it to methane through hydrogenation. The success of our alumina in this program led to this next stage of collaboration. 

Building on its previous work with our alumina, the NRC invited us to participate in a new project that fits perfectly with our goals and allows us to share in the intellectual property developed through the process, which is important for creating shareholder value.  

AnorTech already owns a proprietary process for producing sustainable smelter-grade alumina from anorthosite and continues to expand the range of products enabled by its flowsheet, including high-purity alumina and low-to-zero CO₂ refractory cement products.  

Q: The research project has potential applications in oil and gas, cement, and other heavy industries. Why is the partnership focusing on these sectors?  

A: Post-combustion carbon capture from exhaust gases in heavy industries like oil and gas and cement is currently expensive and typically relies on chemical solvents. A simpler and more sustainable solution could provide meaningful benefits for these industries. The ability to use sustainable, zero-waste alumina is a significant added benefit. 

Q: What opportunities could this project create for AnorTech? 

A: By increasing the number of applications under development, we continue to add value to our shareholders and reduce the risk of our business model. Success in this project could open new opportunities in the carbon capture market and further demonstrate the versatility of our alumina. Anorthosite is a unique mineral and has the potential to make sustainable products. We are still in the early stages of determining what new products we can produce with it. 

Q: How important are partnerships like this for developing new applications and accelerating commercialization?  

A: We believe very strongly in the importance of developing partnerships for both R&D and in commercializing our applications. Not only do partnerships help share the costs of product development, but more importantly, they bring together expertise and brainpower, stimulating innovation that can be more difficult to achieve when products are developed in isolation. We hope to provide regular updates on this as data becomes available from the project. 

Jim Cambon is the CEO of AnorTech