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ECOCLAY™
– HALLOYSITE NANOCLAY FOR OIL SPILL REMEDIATION
BIOCOMPATIBLE.
SCALABLE.
SMARTER THAN DETERGENTS.
SUMMARY
EcoClay™ is a next-generation, halloysite nanotube (HNT)-based oil spill remediation system that replaces toxic chemical dispersants with a natural, bacteria-boosting, and low-cost nanoclay formulation. It turns catastrophic oil slicks into micron-scale emulsions, increasing surface area and accelerating microbial degradation—all without harming marine life.
Environmentally safe
Supports bacterial
oil digestion
Can carry and release traditional detergents like Corexit®
1,000× increase in effective oil surface area
HOW IT WORKS
ECOCLAY™ USES PICKERING EMULSIFICATION, WHERE HNT PARTICLES PHYSICALLY STABILIZE OIL DROPLETS IN WATER:
HNTs (50–70 nm diameter) attach to the oil-water interface.
Droplets shrink to 4–10 μm diameter, increasing surface area for bacteria.
Optionally, HNTs can be loaded with detergents (such as dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate) for hybrid performance; however, EcoClay™ is capable of working without detergent incorporation.
Helpful marine bacteria such as Alcanivorax borkumensis are attracted and attach to the emulsions, naturally accelerating biodegradation.
COMPARED TO CURRENT UTILIZATIONS OF COREXIT®, ECOCLAY™:
Creates smaller droplets
Encourages bacterial colonization (5x higher density)
Reduces ecological toxicity
Droplet Size (with HNTs)
Droplet Size (Corexit)
Bacterial Attachment
Degradation Time
Oil-to-Water Ratio
HNT Dosage
Surface Area Boost
Core test organism:
Alcanivorax borkumensis, a marine hydrocarbon degrader
4–10 µm
15–40 µm
5× increase over Corexit®
Reduced by 30–50% in lab studies
1:20 tested with Macondo crude
1 wt% aqueous dispersion or powder
~1,000× increase over untreated slicks
SCIENTIFIC HIGHLIGHTS
METRIC
ECOCLAY™ RESULT
HYBRID MODE
WITH COREXIT®
EcoClay™ can be loaded with small amounts of existing dispersants for synergistic effect:
1% HNT solution with Corexit® in its lumen
Preserves bacterial health (unlike detergent-only emulsions)
Achieves emulsification with 90% less surfactant
Enables stimulus-responsive release at the oil-water interface
COMMERCIAL SCALE READINESS
COST
~$1 per kg (12× less than Corexit®)
SOURCE
Halloysite is mined in the United States, Turkey, New Zealand, and other global locations
PRODUCTION
Thousands of tons available, scaling to 60,000+ tons/year
DELIVERY
Compatible with aerial spray, skimmer dispersal, or manual deployment
FORMULATION OPTIONS
Dry powder or pre-hydrophobized dispersion
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Corexit® formulations have been shown to have toxicity effects on coral, shrimp, oysters, and microbes, making them a remedial option of last resort
In contrast, EcoClay™ is:
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Non-toxic
-
Biodegradable
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Beneficial to microbial ecosystems
Designed for warmer and colder waters, including Arctic conditions
USE CASES
DISASTER RESPONSE
Deepwater Horizon–scale spills
COASTAL DEFENSE
Ports, naval bases, tankers
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP
Pipelines, offshore rigs
MILITARY APPLICATIONS
Naval logistics, bio-remediation readiness kits
PROJECT TEAM
YELENA RYMBAYEVA
Environmental health and nanomaterials expert
DR. YURI
M. LVOV
Global HNT pioneer, 300+ papers, inventor of slow-release HNT applications
DR. KONSTANTIN DOLGAN
Mechanical engineer, product developer, and formulation systems lead
DOWNLOADS
EcoClay™ Technical Data Sheet
Microscopy Images and Release Kinetics
Comparison Chart:
EcoClay™ vs. Corexit®
Pilot Deployment Request Form
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTNERING, PLEASE REACH OUT
— WE ARE EAGER TO WORK WITH YOU!
Schedule a Pilot Briefing
INTERESTED IN PARTNERING?
QD Labs is currently seeking partners for EcoClay™ development, including:
Coastal remediation contractors
International aid and environmental agencies
Navy, Coast Guard, and DLA response teams
Remediation authorities for municipal, oil and gas applications
Let’s Collaborate on the Future of Materials and Defense Tech
Quantum Diffusion Corp
419 Dan Reneau Dr. Ruston, LA 71270
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