[updated] GraniteFuel Engineering Cracks the Siloxane Code for Cleaner, Cost-Effective Cosmetics and Pharma Manufacturing

GraniteFuel Engineering, Inc., a DCL Technology Group company, has been awarded a patent for a pioneering commercial technology that neutralizes siloxanes in industrial processes. This innovation converts siloxane compounds into harmless silicon dioxide, offering pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers a solution that reduces costs, recovers valuable solvents and advances sustainability goals, per the company.

[update]: According to the company, originally developed for renewable natural gas upgrading, this same technology applies to high-purity industrial environments such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals, where process cleanliness and emission control are critical.

Hydrolysis Meets the Siloxane Challenge

As the company explains, siloxanes, commonly found in creams, soaps, coatings and pharmaceutical formulas, present significant challenges for production and waste management. Conventional disposal methods like flaring or landfilling often cause additional operational and environmental concerns. 

[update]: "Siloxanes are widely used in formulations and process aids but when released into vent or waste streams they create costly operational and environmental challenges, coating sensors, fouling heat exchangers and reducing process reliability," explained Glen Prisciak, director of sales at GraniteFuel Engineering. "GraniteFuel reframes siloxanes as a process efficiency and sustainability issue rather than a purely regulatory concern."

GraniteFuel’s patented hydrolysis technology provides a cleaner alternative by using a controlled reaction with water and a catalyst at high temperatures to transform siloxanes into stable silicon dioxide (SiO₂), safely contained within the system. This milestone reportedly delivers a powerful new option for industrial waste handling and compliance with evolving environmental regulations. 

[update]: "Our technology converts volatile siloxanes into ... SiO₂ before they can accumulate or escape into the environment," Prisciak notes. "While the system requires replacement of the support material where silica is deposited after several years, it operates continuously with no consumable adsorbents, offering a lower-cost, cleaner and more sustainable solution for long-term operation."

Prisciak adds that by neutralizing siloxane by-products at their source, manufacturers can meet environmental requirements without reformulating their products or compromising performance. "Instead of forcing formulators to remove siloxanes entirely, often at the expense of product performance, GraniteFuel’s solution enables manufacturers to meet regulatory requirements through by-product treatment, preserving both formulation integrity and compliance."

Key Tech Benefits

According to the company, the key advantages of the technology include the following.

• Reduced operational costs: The technology prevents costly maintenance and downstream equipment damage.
• Enhanced sustainability: It enables solvent reclamation and energy conservation.
• Regulatory compliance: The innovation helps manufacturers satisfy current and emerging discharge standards.

The hydrolysis system is fully compatible with GraniteFuel’s Temperature Swing Adsorption (TSA) platforms, ensuring flexible and complete solutions for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and siloxanes.

Cleaner Path to Production

"Siloxanes have long been considered a nuisance byproduct with no effective means of treatment beyond disposal," said Glen Prisciak, director of sales at GraniteFuel. "Our technology not only neutralizes siloxanes, but opens opportunities for cleaner, more efficient pharmaceutical and cosmetic production."

Shazam Williams, technical director at the DCL Technology Group, added, "What makes this breakthrough so exciting is its dual relevance. It delivers immediate benefits for plant operators by improving reliability and reducing costs, while also ensuring preparedness for future regulatory standards around siloxane discharge. This is a transformative development for industries where process purity and sustainability are key."

[update]: GraniteFuel aims to work with cosmetics and pharmaceutical producers to pilot this technology and demonstrate measurable sustainability and cost benefits, particularly with manufacturers committed to establishing a cleaner benchmark across sectors that rely on siloxane chemistry.

About GraniteFuel Engineering and DCL Technology Group

The DCL Technology Group has been at the forefront of engineering solutions for more than 40 years. As one of North America's fastest-growing, family-owned clean energy companies, DCL is committed to tackling the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. With over 400 experts spanning multiple industrial sectors, DCL Technology Group develops cutting-edge technologies that reduce methane emissions, decarbonize natural gas and improve energy efficiency.

GraniteFuel Engineering develops advanced gas conditioning and renewable energy solutions that support cleaner, more efficient industrial operations. As a family-owned company within the DCL Technology Group, GraniteFuel is united by a shared purpose: engineering smarter systems for a cleaner world. With more than a decade of experience, GraniteFuel designs and manufactures customized compression, dehydration, VOC/siloxane abatement and biogas upgrading systems for energy producers, utilities and municipalities across North America.