ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (TSXV: ZEN) (‘ZEN’) continues to move at a rapid pace with demand for their graphene biocidal coating through the roof. Following successful product and cytotoxicity trials demand for ZEN’s graphene biocidal coating is coming from personal protective equipment (PPE) and air filtration manufacturers.

ZEN’s biocidal coating method, applications, & quick facts

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March was a super busy month for ZEN

On March 2, 2021 ZEN announced successful Phase 2 cytotoxicity testing results. The announcement was excellent news stating: “Nucro-Technics recorded no adverse effects after seven days of repeated dosing with concentrations many thousands of times higher than those found to be 99.9% effective against viruses, bacteria, and fungi.”

On March 3, 2021 ZEN reported: “ZEN Graphene Solutions and Trebor Rx Corp. announce successful Health Canada testing requirements of surgical masks.”

Equally as spectacular news came on March 17, 2021 when ZEN announced  successful testing of its graphene compound against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. ZEN stated:

“Successful testing results of its patent-pending graphene-based compound against four gram-positive and nine gram-negative bacteria with antimicrobial-resistance (AMR), including multidrug-resistant variants like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Testing was completed under the direction of Dr. Tony Mazzulli, MD, FRCPC, FACP, Microbiologist-in-Chief and Infectious Disease Specialist at University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital, following initial breakthrough results demonstrating that the compound is 99.9% effective against viruses, bacteria, and fungi……Dr. Mazzulli, MD, commented: “The test results indicate that ZEN’s Graphene Compound (GC) at very low concentrations is capable of inhibiting a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) aerobic bacteria. These pathogens are associated with a number of difficult-to-treat clinical infections including those involving the respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin and soft tissues, and bacteremia…..The relatively low concentrations of this GC required to achieve an antimicrobial effect is also promising.”

Translation of the above news releases: ZEN’s graphene biocidal compound is highly effective, even at low concentrations, and there are no adverse side effects (at least based on the studies to date).

ZEN is supply constrained as demand is through the roof

Demand is way more than what ZEN can supply right now. Somewhat like Tesla with their revolutionary electric vehicles being supply constrained. ZEN is already partnering with Trebor on a 100M mask agreement, with ZEN supplying their biocidal coating and Trebor manufacturing the masks.

To meet surging demand, ZEN announced on March 24, 2021, their biocidal coating production plans. ZEN stated:

“ZEN successfully transitioned from bench scale to pilot scale and has begun investing in additional pilot-scale capacity to help meet immediate demands. This intermediate step will significantly increase our current capacity to supply the demand from Trebor RX and provide product for new customers while the design and construction of our industrial-scale expansion continues with our engineering firm, Bantrel.”

But wait it gets even better. ZEN published their proposed 2021 ‘monthly’ production numbers as shown below. If all goes to plan, ZEN plan to be producing their biocidal coating for a staggering 800 million masks a month by November 2021.

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ZEN is currently raising C$3M to help fund their rapid expansion. The offer is at C$2.50 per unit, with a unit including one share and one warrant exercisable at C$3.00 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

In a final piece of good news from March, ZEN announced on March 4: “ZEN Graphene Solutions and Constance Lake First Nation sign implementation agreement for Albany Project development.” The agreement is another important milestone in the development of ZEN’s Albany Graphite Deposit.

Closing remarks

We are living in truly remarkable times with COVID-19 now claiming 127,794,740 confirmed cases and 2,796,727 deaths. Thank goodness companies such as ZEN Graphene Solutions are working so fast to help protect the world from COVID-19 and other terrible infectious diseases.

ZEN Graphene Solutions (market cap C$218M) is up 746% over the past year, but if they can deliver on their 800M mask coatings per month and other opportunities, then the market cap and stock price could potentially move significantly higher. Stay tuned to this great story in 2021.

Disclosure: The author is long ZEN Graphene Solutions.

The face mask sector is hot right now. Even China can’t make enough face masks to meet their own demand. As countries begin to ease the COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdowns literally billions of people will require face masks. Many airlines are already making face masks mandatory, and this could soon spread to other forms of mass transport.

Even better than standard face masks are new high tech face masks designed to kill the virus, using antiviral nano-particles embedded inside the protective material.

Two companies are combining their expertise to produce new high tech face masks and other protective clothing that they hope will kill the virus. They are ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (TSXV: ZEN) and Graphene Composites Ltd. (GC). They have teamed up to develop a COVID-19 virucidal graphene-based composite ink for face masks and other protective clothing.

An agent that kills viruses, a virucidal ink that can be embedded into all types of personal protective equipment (PPE) could have immense benefits for the world right now. Imagine owning a mask that not only blocks the virus but can kill it. The medical world will love it, as it will give them the much needed protection they deserve, as they battle on the front lines of this severe pandemic that has now infected over 3.7 million people, killing ~258,360.

The plan

ZEN has synthesized a ‘silver nanoparticles functionalized graphene oxide ink’ that has been documented by previous researchers to kill earlier versions of coronavirus. Silver is well known to be a potential virucidal agent. Testing will be conducted at Western University’s ImPaKT Facility Biosafety Level 3 lab in Ontario, Canada.

Once testing is completed (and assuming successful), the virucidal graphene ink would then be incorporated into fabrics to be included into masks and filters designed by GC.

The CEO of ZEN, Francis Dubé, stated:

“We are pleased to be collaborating with GC and be on the forefront of a new innovative technology that could contribute to combating the deadly COVID-19 virus. The development of this potential COVID-19 virucidal graphene ink is coming at a crucial time to provide effective PPE supplies for the safety of frontline workers and hospital staff.”

The CEO of GC, Sandy Chen, stated:

“Combining the deep nanomaterials expertise of GC and ZEN with a truly collaborative approach has enabled us to do a year’s worth of R&D in a matter of weeks. Quickly developing and deploying our virucidal/germicidal ink would make a significant difference in slowing the rate of infection – thus saving many lives.”

Competitors

Given the newness of the COVID-19 pandemic there is so far little competition when it comes to virucidal protective clothing using graphene. One Israeli company is reportedly using a virucidal embedded into masks that consists of zinc oxide and copper oxide nano-particles.

ZEN’s graphene has a huge range of potential uses

ZEN is already making great progress in the production of graphene with a huge range of potential uses such as: Tyre strengthener, aluminum/rubber/plastics enhancer, a cement additive/enhancer, diesel and jet fuel additive, graphene batteries, graphene based clothing and so on.

ZEN has unique graphite from which they make graphene

ZEN Graphene Solutions also have their own unique source of graphite at their Albany Graphite Project, which is highly suitable for graphene production. The unique Albany Graphite Project provides the Company with a potential competitive advantage in the graphene market as independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada have demonstrated that ZEN’s Albany PureTM Graphite is an ideal precursor material which easily converts to graphene, using a variety of mechanical, chemical and electrochemical methods.

ZEN’s new graphene research and development facility at Guelph, Ontario, Canada

ZEN has recently opened their new graphene research and small scale production facility in Canada, with a goal of scaling up graphene production to meet consumer demand. Graphene product sales were launched in early March 2020. The research and engineering team will also be developing and testing custom functionalized graphene formulations as requested by industrial collaborators for product performance enhancement.

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Closing remarks

ZEN is one of the most innovate companies out there, with a focus on using graphene to disrupt and improve various industries. Their latest collaboration with Graphene Composites Ltd. is most exciting, as virucidal protective clothing can be a game changer right now in the fight against COVID-19.

Furthermore ZEN already has their own high quality Albany graphite source, and has started scaling up graphene production at their facility in Ontario Canada. This makes them a vertically integrated growing graphene producer, all for a market cap of just C$32 million.