Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 13, Travertine Technologies, Inc., a startup focused on carbon-negative, minimal-waste production of critical elements through its Travertine Process, has officially commenced operations at its demonstration plant, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility showcases the integration of salt-splitting electrolysis, caustic direct air capture, and mineralisation, producing sulfuric acid, calcium carbonate, and green hydrogen from waste gypsum and carbon dioxide captured directly from the air.

Laura Lammers, PhD, Founder and CEO of Travertine, said: “This demo plant is an exciting next step as we scale up the core Travertine Process. Our process can be used for a number of vital industrial applications, including using our sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid for the fertilizer and LFP battery industries with our proprietary phosphoric acid production process. What is unique about Travertine is that we enable carbon-negative critical chemical production without making mineral byproducts that need to be landfilled.”

The demonstration plant, using commercial-scale equipment, represents a key step toward world-scale deployment. It is expected to produce 125 tons per year (tpy) of sulfuric acid, 125 tpy of calcium carbonate, and sequester 55 tpy of carbon dioxide. The facility will supply sustainable, fossil-free sulfuric acid to local partner Sabin Metal Corporation for its precious metals recycling and refining operations. Brent Vesa, technical director at Sabin Metal, noted: “Sabin Metal has long been committed to precious metals recycling with a focus on chemical reuse, sustainable procurement, and minimising byproducts. We are pleased to partner with Travertine to incorporate their sustainable sulfuric acid into our process and continue the legacy of innovation in the Rochester area.”

The project has also drawn recognition from the Carbon Removal Alliance. Executive director Giana Amador commented: “Travertine’s new demo plant is an exciting move for the company and the field. Their approach can generate durable carbon removal credits while producing valuable co-products like sulfuric acid, which can be used to make fertilizers and extract critical minerals. Innovative approaches like this are how we will grow carbon removal to meet our climate goals and provide tangible benefits for existing industries and communities across the US.”

Financial backing for the demonstration plant includes US$3.2 million in grants from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) and US$7.5 million from Builders Vision. James Lindsay, Director of Investment at Builders Vision, stated: “Travertine has developed a novel technology that represents a true process innovation and that can scale rapidly to help major industries like fertilizer, cement, and mining significantly reduce their environmental footprint while strengthening their operations and long-term resilience.”

The Travertine demonstration plant underscores the potential of carbon-negative chemical production for existing industries, providing both environmental benefits and industrial utility. By converting CO₂ into valuable products while avoiding landfill byproducts, Travertine is advancing sustainable industrial practices and setting a model for scaling clean chemical production in the US. The facility also reinforces partnerships that integrate renewable solutions into traditional industrial supply chains, supporting a sustainable and circular approach to critical material manufacturing.