First niobium nanomaterial factory in the world licensed to operate using the product for non-metallic purposes is in Minas Gerais

The startup Nanonib – Nanotecnologia e Inovação em Nióbio received from the government of the State of Minas Gerais the certificate of Technical-Operational Conditions (CTO) and the health permit, with this, Brazil has the first factory of niobium nanomaterials in the world with a license to operate using the product for non-metallic purposes. The license allows the company to produce various items for beauty, health and also for agribusiness.

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A spray that protects surfaces from the new coronavirus for a period of one day will be the company's first non-metallic product to be launched on the market. For this, the company awaits licensing from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). Expectations are that sales will begin in April.

The spray will be manufactured in partnership with Yeva Cosmétiques, located in Itaúna, in the Midwest of the State. While the startup will produce the ingredient that has niobium in its composition, Yeva Cosmétiques will manufacture the product.

Niobium spray that protects surfaces from the new coronavirus will cost around BRL 35,00

According to the company, the spray that protects surfaces from the new coronavirus should be sold for between BRL 35 and BRL 40 and prospects are for sales to reach BRL 35 million in the first year.

“We discovered a way to manipulate niobium and transform it into advanced materials for different areas”, says Nanonib's executive director, Joel Passos. He recalls that the company is made up of professors from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), who have been researching the product for about 15 years, and also by groups of investors.

In 2021, the company plans to launch around seven to eight products made from niobium nanomaterials, “totally disruptive and innovative”, says Passos.

The list of company creations includes a cream that uses niobium nanoparticles to treat psoriasis – it is a cosmetic, not a drug – and a whitening toothpaste.

Nanonib wants to supply niobium products for agribusiness and enter the international market

Nanonib, according to Passos, is also closing an agreement with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), which involves a product with application in agribusiness, for the protection of plants against fungi and bacteria.

“We are transforming the knowledge accumulated in the UFMG for over 15 years. We want to demystify niobium. It is considerably abundant on earth, but the mines in Minas Gerais are the easiest in the world”, he says.

Wanting to expand its business, the company aims at the international market and has made several contacts with other locations. There were even conversations with countries like Japan, Italy and the United States.

Nanonib – Nanotechnology and Innovation in Niobium was created in 2019 and has a nanofactory in the Belo Horizonte Technological Park (BHTec).