Advancing protection, redefining possibilities

Redefining anti-microbial textile treatments

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What is Sonexel?

Sonexel’s Capability

>99.99%Effective against bacteria, viruses & fungi
€12MSONO project proof of concept

Sonexel’s Advantage

Patented process

  • Constant & persistent fast acting biocide when adsorbed on fabric
  • Nanoparticles remain effective after repeated washing / cleaning

Safer than Silver

  • Decreased negative effects on humans and the environment
  • Less volatile metal cost (Cu ~200x cheaper than Ag)

Effective against HAI

  • Effective against hospital-acquired infections

Wide range of applications

  • Medical, commercial and consumer applications

Cost effective

  • Cost effective production process

Sonexel intends to become the world leader in this field.

Sonochemistry – The Heart of the Technology

Acoustic Cavitation

  • Sound energy produces bubbles in a salt solution.
  • Bubbles collapse – forces impregnation of solution into fabric.

In the Sonexel process

  1. Cavitation drives the water/metal salt solution into fabric to give rapid and even coverage.
  2. Subsequent chemical reactions generate nanoparticles homogeneously distributed throughout the fabric.
Cavitation in the liquid
In the liquid
Cavitation near a surface
Near a surface

Sonexel Treated Fabric

Electron microscope image of treated fibre
Electron microscope image showing nanoparticles
Nanoparticles (150–200 nm) embedded throughout textile fibres

Sonexel Applications

Textile treatments in healthcare

  • Medical / surgical apparel e.g. facemasks, PPE
  • Hospital / care facility bedding
  • Wound dressings
  • Infection control solutions

Other fabric applications

  • Seating in aircraft, public transport etc.
  • High-performance sports fabrics

Technology Development Partnership with Leitat

  • LEITAT is an R&D technology transfer non-profit organisation, specialised in material, device and production technologies, based in Spain.
  • LEITAT has deep experience in:
    • Chemistry including nanochemistry
    • Engineering process development
    • Fabric / textile testing
    • Microbiological testing
  • Provides a “one stop shop” for Sonexel’s needs.
Leitat Leitat in the last 10 years: 258 European projects, 577 national projects, 5,534 clients, 3,672 industrial projects

Our Team

Neil Prentice

Executive Director

Neil is an experienced businessperson with extensive experience working with businesses seeking to commercialise technologies in mining, manufacturing, software, and clean technologies. With prior experience in chemical manufacturing, marketing, IP licensing, R&D, and finance, Neil’s background is ideally suited to assist Sonexel in bringing the Company's technology to market.

Lee White

Executive Director

Lee is a highly accomplished multidisciplined Engineer and entrepreneur, boasting extensive experience across Clean Energy, mining, and engineering projects. His diverse academic background, encompassing degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace, marine, and mining engineering, underpins his broad expertise. Throughout his career, Lee has held various roles within both ASX-listed and unlisted companies, contributing to projects spanning Australia, Africa, and North America. Lee is also the co-founder and chief executive officer of tech startup Detail Earth, a company bringing ultra-high-definition aerial imagery into Southeast Asia. He also consults on engineering studies and project delivery.

Graham Ross Andrews

Non-Executive Director & Chairman

Graham is a corporate finance specialist. He holds an MA in Mathematics from Oxford University and a PhD in Mathematics from Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University. Graham worked with BP Plc's Corporate Finance and Planning Divisions and was a Director of Corporate Finance at Chase Manhattan Bank. He also served as Managing Director of WI Carr, part of the Banque Indosuez Group. More recently he has advised organisations with a focus on the oil, gas, mining and renewable energy industries.

Neil Speakman

Non-Executive Director

Neil is an investment banker based between Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York, London and Perth, and has established, funded and advised a number of emerging technology companies. After graduating B.Com at the University of Melbourne, Neil qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC before joining Morgan Grenfell in London, then Ord Minett in Hong Kong, and subsequently formed an accountancy practice in Hong Kong. Neil founded Advanced Material Resources Limited (AMR), with various PRC State owned corporations, which became Neo Material Technologies, a leading rare earths company.

Advisors

Professor Timothy Mason

Sonochemistry Advisor

Tim is one of the two inventors of the SonoChem technology. He is an acknowledged author and world authority and one of the earliest proponents of Sonochemistry technology. Tim describes sonochemistry as “the use of power ultrasound in many different applications of science and technology”, and explains why industry has become increasingly drawn to Sonochemistry because it provides a green and clean alternative to conventional technologies. Tim is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, served for 23 years as the first president of the European Society of Sonochemistry and is the recently retired Editor in Chief of Ultrasonics Sonochemistry.

Amir Farhand

Startup Advisor

With two decades of experience, Mr. Amir Farhand has a proven track record of scaling and commercializing diverse technologies, encompassing mineral exploration, defense, computer vision, and consumer technology. Currently, he serves as the CEO and Founder of Soar, where he leads the development of a novel global atlas. In addition to his role at Soar, Amir actively contributes to the startup ecosystem, holding board positions at various companies including Detail (Aerial imaging), and Marlin Defense (Marine ISR), spanning operations across Australia, Asia, and the United States.