Founded in 1926 in Consett, in the North East of England, Thomas Swan (TSCL) today produces over 100 performance and specialty chemicals and export them to over 80 countries worldwide. Thomas Swan has an ambition to be one of the leading sustainability proponents in the chemical industry. To meet its Carbon Net Zero 2030 objective and new business development growth target, TSCL requires a fast-paced chemical product development from renewable and fossil-carbon free raw materials. As a complement its core skills of chemistry research, scale up and agile manufacturing, TSCL has identified artificial intelligence as a key technology to reduce its development risks and time to market. Chemical Data Intelligence (CDI) Pte Ltd was established in 2020 as a spin-off from Cambridge Centre for Research and Education in Singapore (CARES Ltd). CDI has assembled a unique set of expertise in chemoinformatics, data science for chemistry, mathematics of graphs/networks and machine learning. Its core business is development of custom cloud-based software tools for deep that are based on exploration of large chemical databases and artificial intelligence tools in chemistry. Its core focus is sustainability and supporting the emerging circular economy. . CDI and TSCL collaboration project targets are: (i) to develop a software tool for prediction of molecules with specific target properties, including toxicity and biodegradability, and reaction routes to them, (ii) use this software tool for the _in_ _-__silico_ screening of an innovative safe and environment-friendly chemical additive aimed at the home care consumer product market. Best candidates will be synthesized by TSCL and lab tested for performances, biodegradability and toxicity profile. After optimization, the material will be scaled-up to pilot plant to confirm its manufacture route, cost and sustainability. At the end of the project the software tool will be commercialized by CDI and the chemical additive(s) for home care market sold by TSCL.

Direct-emissions from cement calcination (CaCO3-\>CO2+CaO), combined with concrete-related process-emissions (transport, process-energy etc), represent \>7% of global emissions. NERD's patented Graphene-Enhanced-Concrete (GEC), CONCRETENE(r), offers a pathway to mass-decarbonisation of the concrete-sector, but large-scale exploitation is currently blocked by material-manufacturing and supply-chain challenges. The **GRAPHenhance project vision** is to address these challenges to unlock CONCRETENE's decarbonisation potential. CONCRETENE is a graphene-enhanced admixture for concrete, engineered to enhance performance and sustainability, and the first GEC to reach commercial-scale pilots globally. The technology allows for reduced concrete volume and cement content to achieve equivalent structural performance, delivering significantly reduced carbon footprint (up to 30%) vs OPC. The key to CONCRETENE's performance is the dispersion of Graphene-Nanoplatelets(GNPs) within the material structure. This dispersion is stabilised using Graphene-Oxide(GO) (secondary graphene-component), which prevents GNP aggregation, enables graphene(GNP+GO) loading of 3-6% (~5x higher graphene-concentration than state-of-the-art), and provides a second mechanism of strength-enhancement (see Appendix\_Q3). Although other GECs are in development, most are non-structural. The few structural-GECs in development have so far failed to overcome the GNP-dispersion challenge. Existing approaches result in the incorporation of excess-air, reducing structural-performance and longevity. No other GEC in-development uses the GO-stabilisation approach patented by NERD. GO supply currently represents a major bottleneck to CONCRETENE commercialisation. NERD currently source from China, presenting challenges including batch-to-batch variability (sp2-carbon-speciation up to 4%-variance, sp3-carbon-speciation up to 8%-variance, sulfur-containing-species up to 1.6%-variance), price-volatility, and import-tariffs. Similarly, NERD source GNP from Canadian Black-Swan-Graphene(BSG) via their UK-based partner-organisation, Thomas-Swan(TS), but the current product is not optimised for CONCRETENE, and needs to be scaled-up (in the UK) to meet future-demand. **GRAPHenhance** will pave-the-way for upscaled UK nanomaterial production-capacity, with a **main-focus** on GO (manufacturing by William-Blythe) and GNPs (manufacturing by Thomas-Swan) tailored to CONCRETENE's requirements. GRAPEHhance will overcome challenges relating to NERD's GO and GNP supplies (batch-to-batch variability, residual-surfactants) to finalise CONCRETENE's supply-chain and material composition- prerequisites to accreditation and large-scale commercialisation. **Key objectives**: * To optimise UK-supply of GNP * To determine GO-specifications, enabling post-project negotiation for a commercial-supply agreement between WB and NERD * To validate performance of manufactured GO and GNP in CONCRETENE with graphene-loading at 3-6% * To validate the resulting CONCRETENE formulation in an industrial-pilot (transport-sector) against standard durability testing (ATSM\_C642/C1293/C452/C1138) **GRAPHenhance** partners: * **Nationwide-Engineering-Research-and-Development(****NERD****)**: SME, owner of CONCRETENE technology. * **William-Blythe(WB)**: Leading chemicals innovator, part of Synthomer Group (FTSE-250). * **Thomas-Swan(TS)** (supported by Black-Swan-Graphene(BSG))**:** Speciality-chemicals manufacturer, developer of GNP IP (IP owned by BSG).

Plastics are an essential part of life as we know it. However, their sourcing from fossil-based raw materials and end-of-life issues have contributed to the scrutiny and desire for change at governmental, industrial and societal levels. Biome's novel packaging impacts both issues - sourced from renewable bio-based origins and compostable. An estimated 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic waste have been generated globally since the 1950s (Statista,2022) of which over 50% remains in landfill or loose in the environment. Global greenhouse gas emissions from the production, recycling and disposal of plastics is more than double that of air travel (Nature-Climate-Change,2019). In line with current demand, fossil-based plastics are produced at a rate of ~330mtpa. While useful and ubiquitous, they have been developed focusing on function over end-of-life performance and their environmental impact. Recycling alone is not the complete answer to the "plastics problem". This includes cost, food contamination, degradation and environmental leakage to soils and oceans. Bio-based and biodegradable plastics are an important part of the solution providing low-carbon routes to such materials and biodegradation in appropriate environments. This collaborative project between Biome Technologies plc, Thomas Swan & Co and Nottingham University's Chemical Engineering Department will accelerate the manufacturing process and product optimisation, scaling-up of four novel bioplastics from Biome's current research in partnership with existing commercial customers. The project's outcome will facilitate the commercial deployment of a new range of sustainable and biodegradable materials, reducing landfill and the environmental burden of non-biodegradable plastics in composts and soils whilst increasing productivity and growth for the wider UK (bio)economy.

Bell & Loxton Innovations is a highly innovative, circular-economy spin-out from a working farm in South Devon. Our consortium has recognised an opportunity to produce high-value biorenewable (HVB) materials from abundant agricultural and food-processing co-streams. Many co-streams such as oilseed presscake created during oil extraction and spent brewing yeast and grain are high in protein and are routinely discarded or used downstream in low-economic value applications. Proteins from different natural sources have unique compositions of amino acids both in prevalence and in terms of their sequence. Consequently, proteolysis of these biorenewable proteins will create unique distributions of smaller peptides that differ in size, amino acid compositions and sequence. This diversity enables different high-value market sectors to be catered for such as nutrition, personal care and pharmaceuticals as different peptides have different biological properties. Historically, bespoke peptides have been chemically synthesised at high cost from chemical/fossil fuel feedstocks. Identifying unique high-value biorenewable proteins and then producing tailored peptides and blends (hydrolysates) will enable a circular economy approach to supplying multiple industry sectors with a consequent benefit to the environment. Our consortium brings together the necessary parts for developing a successful and scalable 'green' chemicals business: Bell & Loxton Innovations with its strong farming, food and agricultural production experience, The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) with its in-depth knowledge of waste and co-stream valorisation techniques, and Thomas Swan & Co Ltd as an established chemicals manufacturing business to enable scale-up production coupled with a mission to move to 100% biorenewable feedstocks. Continuing this project from a successful valorisation feasibility study conducted with the BDC, we will work with our route to market manufacturing partner, Thomas Swan, to develop a scalable and patentable process that controls the composition and molecular weight range of resulting peptide hydrolysates each with their own unique bioactivity and targeted to specific markets. To enable revenues within a reasonable timeframe, we will focus initially on personal care applications (skincare, haircare) where a high demand for such peptides already exists and is proportionally regulated.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased demand for a leading Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd (TSCL) product. TSCL have invested to increase capacity by exploiting a new process developed in-house to increase capacity, maximise atom efficiency and reduce energy use. The key raw material is sourced overseas with \>100% price increases experienced linked to the pandemic. It is imperative that TSCL maximise the yield of from every kilogramme of raw material charged to the new process. TSCL performed the process development by consulting the academic literature and using empirical studies and knowledge gained from over 20 years of operation of the previous manufacture process. Whilst this approach has been successful, detailed mechanistic understanding of this chemistry remains elusive as the literature does not have a consistent view of the mechanism of oxychlorination. TSCL and the University of Nottingham (UoN) aim to address this by performing experimental and development studies to elucidate the mechanism of oxychlorination and apply this knowledge to drive process optimisation of the newly commissioned installation and support the development of new technologies. This will enhance TSCL's competitive advantage in global manufacture of this product. By the end of the project TSCL and UoN will have increased their knowledge of the mechanism of oxychlorination and applied this knowledge: \*To the new process to enhance capacity, maximise atom efficiency (reduce by-products) and reduce energy use. \*To design new technologies to enhance the sustainability of manufacture.

"Development of a QC Method for the Determination of Aspect Ratio of Graphene & 2D Nanomaterials" aims to find an alternative time and cost-effective way to determine aspect ratio for Graphene and 2D materials. The approach that will be undertaken is as follow: *Production of Graphene Nanoplatelets materials; *Aspect ratio investigation with state-of-the-art techniques (SEM/AFM); *Alternative characterisation method (DCS and laser diffraction); *Data comparison and modelling; *Analytical method validation. The project partners involved Thomas Swan (TS), National Physical Laboratory (NPL) bring unique technical skills that when collaboratively combined, will allow for the accelerated technical development of this project. Outputs from this project will yield to higher quality graphene materials by improving its characterisation and open up new and exciting markets, allowing Thomas Swan to maximise it's manufacturing and commercial potential in the global graphene market.

"ICE-Batt aims to tackle key challenges on the Automotive Council Electrical Energy Storage Roadmap. For example, optimising existing Li-ion cathode materials; exploring replacements for currently used solvents with more environmentally desirable alternatives; and preparation of cathode chemistries for new chemistries (e.g. Li-S and Li-air) The approach that will be undertaken is as follows: * Develop a specification for the requirement of battery * Development of nanomaterials (Graphene/CNTs or hybrids) and composite materials that can be formulated to develop the electrode * Formulation and optimisation of the electrode slurry * Testing the performance of the electrodes from coin-cell testing to, ultimately, single layer pouch cell The project partners involved, Johnson Matthey (JM), Centre for Process innovation (CPI) and Thomas Swan (TS), bring unique technical skills that, when collaboratively combined, will allow for the accelerated technical development of this project. Outputs from this project will yield, in an optimised battery pack, an EV that will (i) go further, (ii) have a smaller battery, (iii) perform better in low temperatures, (iv) cost less. Further outputs from the project include (i) safeguarding, and generation, of UK jobs, (ii) give UK industry a technical advantage in lithium-ion sector, and (iii) enable access to global markets for UK based SMEs."

Generally, metal packaging is protected with an organic coating on the internal side of the substrate to safeguard against contamination of the product by the metal and degradation of the metal by the product. Additionally, the external surface is often printed for decorative purposes. Epoxy based coatings are the most important protective technology used for metal packaging. They are used due to their outstanding chemical resistance to a wide range of food products and chemicals and possess excellent adhesion to all kinds of substrates. This project will seek to formulate a new set of thin film coatings with improved barrier properties, lowering manufacturing costs and increasing productivity.

This project uses graphene to produce composites with polyolefins to give a step change in performance for lightweight extruded oriented products used in specialist applications. The project team will; • gain an understanding of how graphene can enhance the performance of polymer composites, especially in relation to physical strength and operating temperature. • develop techniques to achieve dispersion of graphene into a polymer matrix at production scale without damaging the platelet structure and reducing the benefits of addition. • understand what impact graphene has on polymer processability and rheological properties, including trials at production scale (processing up to 2.5kg of graphene to produce 250kg of composite) • model the impact that addition of graphene has on product cost at predicted volumes. • develop a value proposition for prototype products and gain feedback from customers in the target markets

To develop a market led commercialisation capabaility for the Advanced Materials Custom Manufacturing Divisions. This will include improved understanding of potential markets and allignment of our product and services with these markets.

A new Uk based mass manufacturing technology will create flexible plastic sheets with embedded electronics and microscopic light emitting devices. High compressed graphene flakes connected to the devices will allow heat to be drawn away from the devices so they carry on working efficiently. Formed into many shapes and sizes the devices could be placed anywhere. They could form part of the exterior of cars and vans to provide advertising or indicator and brakes lights. On the inside they could provide efficient video displays for passenger. In the home the devices could be built into the walls, ceilings and floors to allow endless opportunities for lighting the home. By using graphene to remove the heat these devices will use less energy and last for longer.

The project consortium, which includes M-Solv (process developer and small-scale capacitive touch sensor (CTS) manufacturer), Thomas Swan (graphene manufacturer), Printed Electronics Ltd (inkjet ink formulator) and University of Surrey, aims to bring innvoations to CTS manufacture. CTS comprises of structured transparent conductors (TC), which sense the capacitance variations when fingers approaches. Conventional CTS are made of TC, indium tin oxide (ITO), in which indium is known to be scarce and hence expensive in the near future. This project will explore the use of silver nanowire (AgNW), together with graphene to replace ITO for fabricating CTS at a much lower cost.

Offset lithographic printing presses are used to print glossy colour pages in magazines. The presses have many colour inks formulations which can be used to print a vast range of graphics on cardboard, paper and thin plastics. This project will print graphene on to thin flexible plastic sheets, 1000mm by 707mm by 0.060 mm thick. Printed components will be used in printed electronics applications, as barrier layers for food and industrial packaging and electrodes for batteries, super capacitors and electrochemical sensorss, toys and games, electronic anti-counterfeit labels and as the conducting layers in flexible photovoltaic devices and displays. Because of the high quality and speed of offset lithographic printing there are likely to be significant cost reduction of flexible electronic devices and components, which will lead to lower prices. As well as established opportunities there is the strategic potential to print power harvesting, power storage, sensing, actuation, display and telecommunications devices on a single flexible substrate to enable SMART labels for tracking, healthcare diagnostics and wireless devices which hold information of interest to a customer.

The project team Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd, Thomas Swan and Co. Ltd and The University of Manchester are developing Graphene based materials and sodium ion battery technology that will give improvements in sodium ion batteries for application in a range of enhanced electrical energy storage devices. The devices will have a significant impact on the introduction of local energy generation and consumption where improved energy storage and lower device cost are crucial to their future acceptability, and contribute towards reducing the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels for domestic energy.

This 30 month project is a collaboration between ACAL Energy Ltd and Thomas Swan Ltd to develop a scalable manufacturing and synthesis route for the ACAL Energy developed FlowCath chemistry. The chemicals provide a novel catalyst technology that reduces the cost, improves performance and enhances durability of PEM fuel cell systems. A scalable manufacturing route is required to support licensees of the technology with a proven low-cost supply of FlowCath chemicals. Flowcath technology offers a direct system replacement for conventional PEM applications such as micro-CHP and fuel cell electric vehicles in the automotive sector. A number of OEM’s are already evaluating the technology for use in their next generation of products.

This 4 months feasibility project between ACAL Energy (innovative fuel cell technology) & Thomas Swan (major UK supplier of sub contract chemicals) will make an assessment of options for a feasible, economic scale up route for AE’s new catalyst system, designed to deliver the performance requirements for the automotive fuel application. It will initially make an assessment of the alternative synthesis routes, complete the pre-production process steps to the manufacturing steps and deliver a report on the scaled up cost implications of the chemistry for mass market application. If successful this project not only enables Thomas Swan to apply their chemical manufacturing capability to provide a step change in volume & cost of production routes for this new chemistry, it will also develop the UK based supply chain for what will be a critical, strategic component in this novel fuel cell technology approach.

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