Other Applications for ASAC Technology
Absorbed Natural Gas Storage
As of January 2017, there are over 23 million natural gas vehicles worldwide. Currently, most NGVs use either CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) techniques to store natural gas. However, those storage methods require either high pressures (over 3000 psig) or low temperatures (-160℃) which increases fueling stations’ infrastructure cost and also imposed highly rigid requirements for material of the storage cylinder. Absorptive Natural Gas (ANG) is a novel storage method that use activated carbons to store natural gas, which operates in low pressure (500~1000 psig) and ambient temperatures, leading to significant infrastructure cost savings (up to 50%) and flexible design options compared with CNGs.
Chronic Kidney Disease Medication
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects 15.1% of the world’s population. Approximately 3% of these cases are considered medium to severe (Stage 3 to 5) which is life-threatening and requires immediate clinical treatment. Activated carbon has been developed as a treatment for CKDs by absorbing indole, a precursor of indoxyl sulfate, which is a uremic toxin that, in high levels, contributes to the progression of CKDs. Medications made of high-performance activated carbons have been approved and introduced to the market in Japan, Korea and the Philippines, and is undergoing Phase III evaluation in North America, Latin America and Europe.