Clean Asphaltenes
Environmentally friendly
non-combustion applications
Commercially Proven Clean Innovation
Well Resources' commitment to petroleum sector innovation has led to significant discoveries that change the landscape of the petroleum value chain. These recent discoveries allow for the utilization of petroleum asphaltenes for non-combustion applications, which have major cross-sector opportunities in addressing environmental issues such as water and soil contamination.
The breakthroughs are based on understanding the properties of solid, dry, granular asphaltenes, which are uniquely produced from Well Resources' commercial SELEX-Asp process. Granular asphaltenes are easy to handle and transport, are an effective adsorption material and method for treating pollutants, and can also be used as feedstock for producing various carbon materials.
Effective Resource Utilization
Traditional low-value petroleum residue by-products are turned into environmentally friendly and high value-added materials, which can dually serve as carbon capture mediums for the energy sector.
Asphaltene Processing
Asphaltenes can be used as feedstock for producing various carbon materials, such as fibers, mats, and fillers. The applications for processed asphaltenes can vary from packing materials, to construction materials, to containing-materials that doubly exhibit decontamination effects.
Water-Energy-Food Nexus
Through Well Resources’ strategic alliance with Oxygen Solutions, by-products of decarbonized oil are used to enhance and supplement the performance of processes that improve environmental and human health, as well as food production.
Petroleum residue by-products can be better utilized for non-combustion purposes, lowering the lifecycle carbon intensity of oil, and supporting the petroleum industry’s net-zero emissions targets.
Granular asphaltenes supplement the aquaculture industry by safely adsorbing dissolved organic contaminants and removing fish-produced waste from tank water.
The improved water quality, along with the use of oxygen supplementation yields an increased growth rate for fish while combatting the negative environmental factors that inhibit the yields of traditional aquaculture farming. The asphaltenes that contain fish-produced waste can further be used as an effective agricultural fertilizer.
Water Treatment & Soil Remediation
The use of asphaltenes in the treatment or mitigation of environmental damage caused by contaminants in water and soil is more cost-effective and efficient than traditional methods.
Existing strategies used to address water contaminants are either costly to implement or have drawbacks that result in further environmental damage. Traditional soil remediation strategies used to treat residual farm chemicals are costly and energy-intensive to implement; consequently, most contaminated agricultural lands remain untreated.
Asphaltene Benefits
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Low cost of production
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Produced in large quantities
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Non-reactive
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Non-leachable
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No biological health risk
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Soil matrix compatibility
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Adsorbent for dissolved organic contaminants
Before Treatment
Asphaltene Utilization Methods
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Substitute for activated carbon filter material
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Direct contact with contaminated material to adsorb pollutants
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Combine with microorganisms for enhanced bioremediation
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Planting soil matrix additive
After Treatment
Commercial Project Partners
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