Graphene: The Strongest Material in the World made from TRASH? Discovery from Rice University. An update.

www.youtube.com ^ | 2 years ago. | Dr. James Tour

[Jonty30]

For those that either have not seen this video, I am posting this so people can learn about.

It was posted here on Freerepublic about a year ago, so I asked Grok for an update.

The flash Joule heating (FJH) process developed at Rice University to convert waste materials into graphene has shown significant progress toward commercialization, but it is not yet fully commercialized at a large scale. Here's a summary of the current status based on available information:

### Progress Toward Commercialization 1. **Universal Matter**: A startup company, Universal Matter, was spun off from Rice University to commercialize the FJH process. By 2021, Universal Matter aimed to scale production to 1 ton per day by Q2 2022, with plans for further expansion. The company has been working on industrializing the process to produce graphene from various waste sources, including plastics, food waste, and carbon-based materials like coal and asphaltene.[](https://netl.doe.gov/node/10873)[](https://www.science.org/content/article/electricity-turns-garbage-graphene)

2. **Collaborations and Funding**: - **NETL Partnership**: The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) partnered with Rice University to study FJH for producing graphene from carbon ore, achieving a milestone of producing 1 kg of graphene in less than two hours, exceeding goals by 20 times. Plans include optimizing the system for higher production rates and integrating AI for process control.[](https://netl.doe.gov/node/10873) - **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers**: A $5.2 million grant in 2021 supported efforts to expand FJH applications, including recycling metals from batteries and producing graphene from waste.[](https://news2.rice.edu/2021/09/30/army-backs-bid-to-flash-waste-into-useful-materials/) - **Ford Motor Company**: Rice collaborated with Ford to convert plastic parts from end-of-life vehicles into graphene for automotive applications, indicating industry interest.[](https://www.graphene-info.com/tags/rice-university)

3. **Applications and Market Potential**: - The FJH process produces turbostratic graphene, which is easier to disperse and integrate into materials like concrete, asphalt, plastics, and composites. For example, adding just 0.1% graphene to concrete can reduce its environmental impact by a third, and 1% in asphalt can triple road lifespan.[](https://netl.doe.gov/node/10873)[](https://www.plasticstoday.com/materials-research/rice-lab-turns-trash-into-graphene-in-a-flash) - The process is cost-effective, with estimates of ~$125 per ton of plastic waste converted, compared to graphene’s commercial price of $67,000–$200,000 per ton. This economic incentive, combined with environmental benefits, supports commercialization potential.[](https://graphene-flagship.eu/materials/news/flash-graphene-trash-to-treasure/)[](https://www.plasticstoday.com/materials-research/rice-lab-turns-trash-into-graphene-in-a-flash) - Additional applications include water purification, energy storage, and PFAS remediation, where FJH converts waste into graphene while addressing environmental challenges.[](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125002841)[](https://quantumzeitgeist.com/rice-scientists-develop-flash-joule-heating-method-to-eliminate-forever-chemicals-and-transform-waste-into-graphene/)

### Challenges and Criticisms - **Scalability and Quality**: Some skepticism exists regarding scalability and the quality of graphene produced. A Reddit discussion highlighted concerns that FJH graphene from waste might be lower quality (“shit-tier”) compared to graphene from pure carbon sources, potentially limiting its use in high-end applications like electronics. However, for applications like concrete additives, high-quality graphene may not be necessary.[](https://www.reddit.com/r/graphene/comments/qf8z1q/flash_joule_heating_process_commercialization/) - **Energy and Safety**: The process requires significant electrical energy to reach temperatures up to 3,000°C, raising concerns about safety (e.g., electrocution risks) and the need for renewable energy to minimize CO2 emissions. Proper venting systems are also needed to manage volatile gases.[](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125002841) - **Market Adoption**: While the process is promising, widespread commercial adoption depends on proving scalability, consistent quality, and economic viability at industrial scales. The technology must compete with existing graphene production methods like chemical vapor deposition, which are costly but established.[](https://www.science.org/content/article/twenty-years-after-its-discovery-graphene-finally-living-hype)

### Current Status As of the latest reports (up to 2025), Universal Matter and other partners are actively scaling the FJH process, with production milestones achieved in the lab and pilot projects underway. The technology has moved beyond proof-of-concept, with real-world testing in applications like concrete and automotive composites. However, full-scale commercial production (e.g., 100 tons per day, as aspired in some reports) is still in development, with ongoing efforts to optimize automation and process control.[](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125002841)[](https://netl.doe.gov/node/10873)

### Conclusion The Rice University FJH process is on a promising trajectory toward commercialization, driven by Universal Matter and supported by significant funding and partnerships. While challenges like scalability, energy use, and quality control remain, the technology’s ability to upcycle waste into valuable graphene for applications like construction, automotive, and environmental remediation makes it economically and environmentally compelling. Full commercialization is likely still a few years away, pending further scaling and market validation.

If you’d like, I can search for more recent updates or specific details about Universal Matter’s progress or other commercial efforts. Let me know!

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education; Science; Society
KEYWORDS:

[Jonty30]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIbgauhV2Js&t=2s

[BrexitBen]

Maybe AI will accelerate the knowledge of how to convert trash into graphene.

With all the waste and trash available, graphene would be as abundant as coal.

[RoosterRedux]

James Tour is a great scientist and a great evangelical Christian.

[BipolarBob]

Food scraps, coal, plastics and even beer can be converted into energy/materials.

[Jonty30]

One application that I think the lower tier graphene would be good for is country roads. I work in a camp and they’ve laid down these hexagonal plastic layer and put dirt on top of it and it seems to help keep the road together.

Graphene might allow country roads to stay together longer.

[alstewartfan]

He and Stephen Meyer are among my heroes. 😁🇱🇷✝️

[TheThirdRuffian]

My best engineer and accountant are Rice grads.

Seems like one of the up-and-coming schools to replace the fading Ivys.

[Tennessee Nana]

My trash is priceless

[Jonty30]

What secrets do you have in your trash?

[Tennessee Nana]

So you have a top secret clearance ???

[MikelTackNailer]

The process requires significant electrical energy to reach temperatures up to 3,000°C, raising concerns about safety (e.g., electrocution risks) and the need for renewable energy to minimize CO2 emissions.

Silly Greenie Wienie, laboratories are for scientists.

[Scrambler Bob]

OH, not Graphene Maxwell

[ichabod1]

what’s a Chinaman eat? RICE!

[Afterguard]

Isn’t graphene the stuff found in the clotshot vaccine?

This seems like a better use for the stuff.

[Jonty30]

Graphene is potentially the new oil, because it

[Blueflag]

Sigh. Folks need to realize graphene is carbon, and the earth and our civilization has a LOT of carbon. Unless of course one is trying to decarbonize ...

Graphene- It’s a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, just one atom thick.

Now, the trick is to manufacture it, form it, and keep it assembled as something useful.

[ryderann]

65-70 years ago I saw a film (news-reel?) showing a German company making “concrete” building blocks from trash/garbage.

[Jonty30]

Graphene is the new oil, because it has unlimited applications. If they can get the costs down sufficiently, it will be everywhere that one can think of.

Yes, vaccines should not be one of those applications.

[Cold Heart]

The early settlers in my area made the road beds out of round river rock. Basically they made the road bed out of marbles.