(PRNewswire)--Thiozen has received $1.18 MM in grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to help the company commercialize its breakthrough technology that replaces traditional H₂ production methods. Having recently piloted its technology through the de-souring of associated gas in the Permian Basin, Thiozen will use the NSF grants to fund additional projects that advance the commercial readiness of the company's patented chemical process.

The NSF grants are funded through America's Seed Fund, a congressionally mandated effort that is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

"Thiozen offers the first-ever technology capable of producing H₂ from sour gas waste streams, giving the energy industry the low-cost, low-emission H₂ production method it needs," said Ryan Gillis, President of Thiozen. "We greatly appreciate this funding from NSF, which will help us scale commercialization and perform multiple experimental campaigns demonstrating Thiozen's superior performance against legacy H₂ production technologies."

H₂ is essential to producing fuels and chemicals, but its production is polluting and carbon-intensive, generating approximately 2% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. H₂ demand is dominated by large cost-sensitive commodity chemical manufacturers, who are facing an increased need for H₂ to raise profits and meet environmental standards.

Rising regulatory and societal pressure is limiting the construction of additional carbon-intensive H₂ production infrastructure, creating further pressure on manufacturers.

"Thiozen's breakthrough technology holds the unique potential to transform the energy industry by helping it meet two over-arching goals: energy security and decarbonization," said Mike Giardello, Partner at Mount Wilson Ventures. "We believe Thiozen's patented chemical cycle will completely replace traditional H₂ production methods with a new clean tech approach that utilizes 'sour gas' waste streams."