Directa Plus, a producer and supplier of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, has entered into a collaboration with GSP SA. Headquartered in Romania and part of the GSP Holding group, GSP SA operates in the global oil and gas industry and it is working with Directa Plus to evaluate the use of Grafysorber, the company’s graphene-based product for environmental applications, in the removal of hydrocarbons from contaminated water emanating from oil and gas activities.

The companies have signed a binding letter of intent (LOI) to conduct field trials with a view to entering into a commercial agreement during the first half of 2018. “We are pleased to have entered into this collaboration with GSP SA who will be evaluating and implementing Directa Plus technology in their activities in the oil and gas industry,” said Giulio Cesareo, Chief Executive Officer of Directa Plus.

“GSP SA owns ships, offshore platforms and oil fields that represent several interesting application areas with high potential for Grafysorber to be successfully used. This is another great opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of Grafysorber in the field. We look forward to successfully completing the trial phase and to establishing a commercial agreement.”

Testing and on-field trials

Under the terms of the LOI, GSP SA will commence on-field trials in early 2018 to explore multiple applications for Grafysorber across its range of activities in the oil and gas industry, which includes offshore drilling and construction, shipping, engineering, aviation, onshore facilities, logistics and catering.

This will involve testing the absorbent capabilities of Grafysorber in decontaminating hydrocarbons from seawater and in the treatment of industrial water. The LOI also includes the potential purchase or renting by GSP SA of the Company’s Mobile Production Unit (“MPU”) for the on-site production of Grafysorber.

Grafysorber

Grafysorber has unique oil adsorption capacity that has been substantiated through extensive testing and commercial trials. In July 2017, the company and ENI S.p.A. jointly presented the results of their successful testing of Grafysorber over the previous twelve months to the 6th International Conference on Environmental Chemistry and Engineering in Rome.

Grafysorber’s 3D structure, made by graphene sheets, acts as a sponge to capture the hydrocarbons that contaminate the water. It has been demonstrated to be at least five times more effective than the technologies presently used for water decontamination, adsorbing more than 100 times its own weight of oily pollutant. Grafysorber is also eco-sustainable: it is derived from a natural raw material, graphite, and is produced in a chemical-free process; the absorbed oil can be easily recovered to be recycled or disposed of separately; and Grafysorber is itself reusable and recyclable.

“Our customers in Romania were among the first to test, and later use, our innovative Grafysorber materials for the treatment of ground water contaminated with hydrocarbons and for the remediation of polluted sites. We are delighted to offer the opportunity to take advantage of this unique material to a company like GSP SA,” commented Razvan Popescu, COO of Directa Plus who will be overseeing the on-field trials.

www.directa-plus.com