Backed by real, published science.
Our technology is grounded in peer-reviewed research on catalytic pyrolysis and waste valorization, developed in partnership with Utah State University.
Built to last. Built to reuse.
Catalyst lifespan is 40-50% longer than any other catalyst tested.
Closed loop
The raw material is a closed-loop reusable product, regenerated and reused with no waste.
More product, more profit
Less harsh than common zeolite and FCC catalysts, yielding more product, and more profit.
Sweeter crude
Affinity for undesired metals in crude oil produces sweeter, lower-molecular-weight crude.
Built to endure
Resistance to metal poisoning and reusability make it a more economical alternative.
Used motor oil, element by element.
The metals that make waste motor oil unburnable, measured before and after a single pass through the formulated red-mud catalyst. Values as published in the BioEnergy Fuels / USU processing study.
of the zinc removed
of the sulfur removed
of the iron removed
gallons of used motor oil disposed of in the US every year
| Element | Raw oil | Processed | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc | 411 mg/kg | 0.84 mg/kg | 99.8% |
| Copper | 25.8 mg/kg | 0.18 mg/kg | 99.3% |
| Lead | 9.90 mg/kg | 0.26 mg/kg | 97.4% |
| Phosphorus | 430 mg/kg | 20 mg/kg | 95.3% |
| Manganese | 1.24 mg/kg | 0.06 mg/kg | 95.2% |
| Iron | 60.1 mg/kg | 5.00 mg/kg | 91.7% |
| Element | Raw oil | Processed | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 9.15 mg/kg | 0.84 mg/kg | 90.1% |
| Sodium | 113 mg/kg | 15.1 mg/kg | 86.6% |
| Sulfur | 0.14 % | 0.02 % | 85.7% |
| Nickel | 1.02 mg/kg | 0.17 mg/kg | 83.3% |
| Calcium | 0.11 % | 0.02 % | 81.8% |
| Chromium | 0.83 mg/kg | 0.22 mg/kg | 73.5% |
The catalyst research, in full.
Four peer-reviewed studies on the formulated red-mud catalyst, published in Energy & Fuels and Energy between 2013 and 2024. Free to download, no form to fill in.
Reformulated Red Mud: a Robust Catalyst for In Situ Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass
The catalyst survives repeated regeneration without losing activity.
F. A. Agblevor, H. Wang, S. Beis, K. Christian, A. Slade, O. Hietsoi, D. M. Santosa
Catalytic Pyrolysis of Cellulose Using Formulated Red Mud, Sand, and HZSM-5
Red mud against HZSM-5 on pure cellulose, product by product.
Hamza Abdellaoui, Foster A. Agblevor, Sohrab Haghighi Mood
Catalytic Pyrolysis of Pinyon–Juniper Using Red Mud and HZSM-5
Oils half the viscosity of the zeolite route, at a higher heating value.
Bhuvanesh K. Yathavan, F. A. Agblevor
Upgrading of pinyon-juniper catalytic pyrolysis oil via hydrodeoxygenation
Oxygen driven to zero and heating value raised from 27.6 to 45.6 MJ/kg.
Hossein Jahromi, Foster A. Agblevor
Beyond the catalyst.
The same red-mud platform applied to agricultural waste, tires, plastics, coal, and bio-oil upgrading. Every paper is free to download.
Biomass & Agricultural Waste
Pyrolytic Conversion of Olive Mill Wastewater Sludge to Biofuels Using Red Mud as Catalyst
Stable, low-viscosity (5–7 cP) pyrolysis liquids at 41 MJ/kg, mostly aliphatic hydrocarbons.
Foster Aryi Agblevor, Hamza Abdellaoui, Kamel Halouani, Sedat Hakis Beis
Aqueous-Phase Synthesis of Hydrocarbons from Furfural Reactions with Low-Molecular-Weight Biomass Oxygenates
Foster A. Agblevor, Hossein Jahromi
Biocrude oils from the fast pyrolysis of poultry litter and hardwood
Biocrude yields of 36–50 wt% from poultry litter and 63 wt% from hardwood bedding.
F. A. Agblevor, S. Beis, S. S. Kim, R. Tarrant, N. O. Mante
Tire Waste & Plastic Derivatives
Production of low-sulfur fuels from catalytic pyrolysis of waste tires using formulated red mud catalyst
Sulfur in the oil driven down to 0.38 wt%, with catalyst activity restored by regeneration in air.
Foster A. Agblevor, Oleksandr Hietsoi, Hossein Jahromi, Hamza Abdellaoui
Catalytic Pyrolysis of Poly Vinyl Chloride as a Viable Way of Waste Management
Oil with less than 10 ppm chlorinated products at a heating value of 40.78 MJ/kg.
Randy Santos, Foster A. Agblevor
Other Findings & Applications
Comparative Kinetic and Pyrolytic Studies of D-Glucose Using Formulated Red Mud, Sand, and HZSM-5
At 260 °C the red mud converted 50% of the glucose, against 44% for HZSM-5 and 35% for sand.
Hamza Abdellaoui, Foster A. Agblevor
Advancing Coal Catalytic Gasification to Promote Optimum Syngas Production
Red mud lowered methane formation, destroyed tars, and gave a hydrogen-rich syngas.
Francine Battaglia, Foster Agblevor, Michael Klein, Reza Sheikhi
Hydrotreating of guaiacol: A comparative study of Red Mud-supported nickel and commercial Ni/SiO2-Al2O3 catalysts
Complete deoxygenation at 400 °C and 6.21 MPa with a red-mud-supported nickel catalyst.
Hossein Jahromi, Foster A. Agblevor