Michelle Ma and Rafaela Jinich of Bloomberg report on a startup that is creating graphite with methane.
- Molten Industries, an Oakland-based startup, is developing a technique to produce graphite and hydrogen by breaking down methane gas, aiming to create a US supply chain for battery materials.
- The company uses a pyrolysis process with resistive heating to split methane into graphite and hydrogen without CO2 emissions, potentially offering a more environmentally friendly and cost-competitive alternative to current graphite production methods.
- Molten has raised $25 million in Series A funding from several donors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
“Other pyrolysis companies exist but most create products like soot or carbon black that can’t be used in battery production. Those companies also often rely on microwave or plasma-based heating, techniques that can be very energy-intensive. By contrast, Molten’s reactor is like a toaster: It uses resistive heating, which is more efficient, according to co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Bush.”
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