Research Triangle Park, N.C. – September 13, 2026 -- RTI International has secured $5.5 million in combined federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for two projects converting common minerals and used cardboard into high-value industrial materials.
DOE funds dual technology tracks at expanded pilot facility
Both projects will run at the RTI Pilot Xcelerator, a pilot-scale testing platform on RTI's campus. The institute is set to open a $14 million facility expansion on Sept. 10, doubling its infrastructure for testing energy and industrial process innovations before they reach commercial scale.
Olivine conversion project targets steelmaking and hydrogen supply chains
Sameer Parvathikar, Ph.D., Program Director for the RTI Pilot Xcelerator, will lead the first project in partnership with Gunnadoo Consulting LLC and Thar Energy LLC. The team will test a method to convert olivine, an abundant natural mineral, into materials for steelmaking, hydrogen fuel production, soil improvement products, and construction ingredients.
Cardboard recycling project targets 1,000 kg conversion over 100 days
David Dayton, Ph.D., RTI Senior Fellow and Biofuels Director, will lead the second project with the Forest Biorefineries Department at North Carolina State University. Using anaerobic digestion technology, the team plans to run a next-generation recycling process continuously for 100 days, converting at least 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs.) of used cardboard into reusable fiber and biogas. Researchers will benchmark the resulting fiber yields and energy efficiency against existing cardboard recycling methods.
Awards align with DOE push to lower commodity costs domestically
David Dausch, Ph.D., Vice President of Engineering and Advanced Technology at RTI, said the awards reflect a shared interest in advancing practical solutions to industrial challenges, allowing RTI and its partners to collect performance data needed to evaluate the technologies at larger scale. The DOE selected the projects under a broader initiative aimed at reducing the cost of producing key commodities and strengthening domestic supply chains.