day two
OCOchem, founded in 2020, employs 17 people in Richland. The company manufactures formate chemicals made from carbon dioxide. OCOchem is pioneering the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and materials at a lower cost than the conventional fossilbased pathway. OCOchem has built and operates the world’ s largest CO2 electrolyzer in Richland. The company is supported by a global array of private investors, the U. S. Department of Energy and the U. S. Army. For every pound of product OCOchem makes, 7.2 pounds of CO2 emissions are abated, making carbon regeneration seven times more effective than CO2 sequestration.
“ It’ s part of something special. It could grow into something that could change the world.”
Samuel Urcino( left) is a technician at OCOchem, where he helps keep an eye on sensors monitoring the world’ s largest CO2 electrolizer machine. He has worked at OCOchem since May.
Todd Brix( right) is CEO of OCOchem, which he founded in 2020.