At Q2 Technologies, technologies isn’t just part of our name – it’s who we are. As we wrap up another year of progress, we’re proud to share a look inside one of our initiatives: a strategic R&D partnership with Rice University that is shaping the future of selective sulfur and oxygenate removal from NGLs.
Recognizing a Shift in the Market
Across the industry, sulfur- and oxygenate-related scrutiny has accelerated, especially in the liquid hydrocarbon space. Pipeline contracts, end-use requirements, and petrochemical standards have all tightened, while traditional treatment options have struggled to keep pace with what operators now require.
Our team saw the gap clearly: the industry needed a more targeted, more effective, and more operationally practical solution.
Building a Technical Partnership for Real-World Impact
To meet this need, Q2 Technologies launched a structured, data-driven R&D program with Rice University – one of the nation’s leading research institutions. Together with Rice’s PhD candidates and faculty, and supported by our team’s 100+ years of combined oil and gas experience, we designed a comprehensive testing matrix to rigorously evaluate selective removal across a wide range of sulfur species and oxygenates.
Through iterative analysis and refinement, we narrowed the field of material candidates and accelerated development toward a real, scalable solution.
Enhancing Capabilities With Advanced Analytical Tools
To strengthen the program, Q2 Technologies invested in additional analytical instrumentation and leveraged Rice University’s state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. This combined technical infrastructure allowed us to move quickly from broad concept exploration to definitive laboratory trials, ensuring speed without compromising scientific rigor.
From Concept to Field Trials: A New Approach Emerges
The result of this work is a viable, highly engineered material solution that has now progressed to field-trial readiness.
Unlike traditional amine-based systems – which require significant equipment, continuous manpower, and deep operational expertise – this new technology provides a single-pass treatment solution.
It eliminates unnecessary complexity while delivering targeted performance for selective sulfur removal and combined sulfur-and-oxygenate removal.
What's Next: Field Demonstrations and Commercial Readiness
Q2 Technologies is now preparing full field demonstrations of this product across applications ranging from kerosene to NGL streams. The momentum built through this collaboration positions us to bring a fundamentally improved treatment option to an industry that needs it.
As we enter the new year, our commitment remains the same: advancing technologies that solve real industry challenges. With field trials underway and a strong foundation of research behind us, 2026 will be a year focused on scaling, validating, and bringing this breakthrough solution to the operators who need it most.
We’re excited for what’s ahead – and we look forward to sharing even more innovation, progress, and partnership in the coming year.
