Ledger · 2026-09-01 · Polymer / Industrial Chemistry

Lignosulfonate-Acrylamide Graft Copolymers (LS-g-PAAm) via Redox-Initiated Aqueous Polymerization

Rejected

This concept did not clear the framework. The reasoning is published in full below.

Why it failed

Assessment

The primary performance comparison in the report compares LS-g-PAAm against an unamended bentonite mud base (a negative control baseline) rather than an actual commercial high-temperature fluid-loss additive. Under sub-test A and E, comparing against a negative control invalidates incumbent legitimacy and forces a failure on superiority.

Claimed advantage

HTHP Filtration Loss at 180°C of 7.2 mL vs 27.4 mL for Standard Viscosifier/Bentonite Base (3.8x reduction)

Named comparator: Standard Viscosifier / Bentonite Base

Also flagged

A rejection is not a claim that the science is wrong. It means the venture case did not survive: the comparator was not what the buyer actually buys, the comparison was not like-for-like, the advantage fell short of a step change, or the capital and time to first revenue were prohibitive.

Assessed 2026-09-01 against seven gates plus the voiding sub-tests. How the method works · Browse all concepts