King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and CarbonMeta Technologies Inc. revealed the signing of an MOU for a joint cooperation on processing plastic waste into hydrogen gas high-value solid carbon materials using microwave catalysis.

KACST and CarbonMeta will work together on advancing the microwave catalysis processes that was developed by University of Oxford, as well as developing hydrogen and carbon extraction processes that are needed for industrial applications.

"This collaboration will help advance a solution for eliminating plastic waste; instead of polluting our land and oceans, waste plastics could produce clean hydrogen fuel and value-added carbon products," said Dr. Hassan Alayied, Director General of International Cooperation and Partnerships. "Through this agreement, KACST‎ will contribute in providing the necessary technical personnel and specialized laboratories to achieve this goal."

KACST and CarbonMeta will be working together to accelerate the commercialization of the waste plastic catalysis processes and the material separation processes for manufacturing hydrogen, graphite and carbon nanotube products.

"Collaborating with KACST will step up our efforts to commercialize the patented technologies that were exclusively licensed from Oxford University Innovation." said Lloyd Spencer, chairman and CEO of CarbonMeta. "We look forward to working closely with KACST in Saudi Arabia and University of Oxford in the United Kingdom to manufacture and market hydrogen, graphite and carbon nanotube products."