CO2 Solutions Completes Investigatory Phase of Collaboration with Alcoa

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TSX-V: CST
Outstanding shares: 79,187,836 

QUEBEC CITY, July 10, 2012 /CNW/ - CO₂ Solutions Inc. (TSXV: CST), an innovator in the field of enzyme-enabled carbon capture technology, announced today the completion of the initial investigatory phase of its carbon capture pilot program with Alcoa, Inc.  The project, started in April, 2011, is designed to capture and sequester industrial carbon emissions in alumina production waste, neutralize these materials and then create a commercially viable product.

The program, part of Alcoa's ongoing commitment to enhance its operational sustainability, proposed to use Alcoa's induct scrubber technology to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. After capturing the emissions, the technology treats and then uses a primary by-product of the aluminum manufacturing process known as alkaline clay, or bauxite residue, as well as other alkaline industrial residuals.

The initial stage of the project tested Alcoa's gas scrubbing process using enzymatic technology from CO₂ Solutions and Codexis, Inc. Alcoa funded the project, which also received financial contributions from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The results of the initial phase of the project have been reviewed by CO₂ Solutions, Codexis and Alcoa scientists and engineers. The project yielded positive results at bench scale, which confirmed the potential of the enzymatic technology for efficient CO₂ capture from industrial effluent gases.

The following important, positive technical results were noted:

• The use of CO₂ Solutions/Codexis technology provided for marked increases in CO₂ capture efficiency and the ability to reduce equipment sizing
• Enzyme stability was noted in the carbonate solvent employed
• The potential to utilize enzymes to enhance CO₂ capture with a carbonate solvent was confirmed and provides the opportunity to apply this technology approach to other industrial applications

The project could not meet the DOE project completion schedule, which called for full commercial deployment by 2014 and consequently will not move ahead to the next phase at this time.  However, CO₂ Solutions will continue with the further development of this application of its technology.

"While the project will not proceed as planned, the technical results validate our belief that our enzyme-enabled carbon capture technology will become commercially viable for both carbon dioxide capture and sequestration," said Glenn R. Kelly, CO₂ Solutions' President and Chief Executive Officer. "The positive results from this program have already led to evaluations of our technology being undertaken with other industrial partners."

About CO₂ Solutions Inc.
CO₂ Solutions is an innovator in the field of enzyme-enabled carbon capture and has been actively working to develop and commercialize the technology for stationary sources of carbon pollution.  CO₂ Solutions' technology lowers the cost barrier to Carbon Capture, Sequestration and Utilization (CCSU), positioning it as a viable CO₂ mitigation tool, as well as enabling industry to derive profitable new products from these emissions.  CO₂ Solutions has built an extensive patent portfolio covering the use of carbonic anhydrase, or analogues thereof, for the efficient post‐combustion capture of carbon dioxide with low‐energy aqueous solvents.  Further information can be found at www.co2solutions.com

CO₂ Solutions Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release may be forward-looking. These statements relate to future events or CO₂ Solutions' future economic performance and reflect the current assumptions and expectations of management. Certain unknown factors may affect the events, economic performance and results of operations described herein. CO₂ Solutions undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Investor Relations and Media Contact:

CO₂ Solutions: 
Thom Skinner
418-842-3456, ext. 223 
[email protected]
www.co2solutions.com

Or 

TMX Equicom
Adam Peeler
416-815-0700, ext. 225
[email protected]