As part of the financing round supported by SOLEOS, Munich-based RCB Nanotechnologies GmbH has raised more than EUR 12 million in equity capital. The listed Marubeni Corporation, one of the leading international trading groups based in Tokyo, participated in this financing round.
RCB Nanotechnologies is currently constructing a plant for the production of next-generation recovered carbon black (“rCB 2.0”). Carbon black consists of fine carbon-based particles that are mainly used as a reinforcement for rubber in tyres.
In collaboration with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institute, the world’s leading organisation for application-oriented research, RCB Nanotechnologies has successfully developed a technology to produce rCB 2.0 to a world-leading standard by removing the mineral ash from rCB through a proprietary post-pyrolysis chemical purification process. This process enables tyre and plastic manufacturers to reuse the carbon black recovered from used tyres. This recycling can save millions of tonnes of oil and CO₂ emissions.
With the funds from the transaction, RCB Nanotechnologies will continue the construction of the first industrial pilot plant in Vogošća/Bosnia, which should enable a stable supply of rCB 2.0 to customers by the end of 2024. This plant will be the first commercially operated plant for the chemical purification of rCB worldwide.