Zentek Ltd. provided an update on its ZenGUARD platform. The Company has made significant strides preparing for the launch of ZenGUARD? Enhanced Air Filters for the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning market and pursuing new opportunities for surgical masks.

Zentek's Business Development team led by Ryan Shacklock, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, has been executing an extensive education program for ZenGUARD? Enhanced Air Filters. This includes attending HVAC industry events in both the United States and Canada where technical details and the latest developments of ZenGUARD?

Enhanced Air Filters are highlighted to potential customers, property managers and filter manufacturers and distributors. Zentek representatives attended the 2024 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Chicago, Illinois in January 2024 to share technical details of ZenGUARD?'s impact on Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value ("MERV")-Brated HVAC filters. Following this event, the team completed and submitted an extended abstract to ASHRAE titled: "ASHRAE Standard 241 and Graphene Silver-Coated MERV-A 9-A Filters: A Case Study." The abstract was coauthored by Deepak Sridhar, Kathleen Owen, Ryan Shacklock, and Colin van der Kuur.

As context for this study, several organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States are advocating for improved indoor air quality via several strategies, including using higher MERV-rated HVAC filters. Similarly, ASHRAE introduced Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols, which outlines specific recommendations for buildings of various types to reduce the risk of disease transmission. In certain instances, these recommendations have led to challenges stemming from: Incompatibility of HVAC systems with higher MERV-rated filters; Higher filter and maintenance costs; Increased energy demand and emissions from conditioning additional outdoor air; Elevated energy demand and emissions from increased airflow restrictions associated with higher MERV-rated filters.

This case study, which makes use of the approach outlined in the ASHRAE Standard 241, will be presented at the ASHRAE Annual Conference on June 23, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFS is an industry association recognized as a global leader in the filtration and separation industry. Each year AFS holds the FiltCon Conference, which is focused on driving education, knowledge exchange, and networking in the global filtration community.

The Company attended this year's event in Houston, Texas where it presented "Novel Silver-Graphene Oxide Composites: Enhanced MERV Filters for Controlling Infectious Aerosols." Zentek has attended and presented at this event two years in a row creating awareness with many technical and scientific participants in the HVAC industry. BUILDEX hosts Canada's largest conferences and tradeshows for property management, interior design, architecture, construction, and renovation. Over the last number of months, the Company has attended and exhibited at BUILDEX events in Calgary, Alberta, Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Through these events Zentek has had the opportunity to educate many decision makers about important technical aspects of ZenGUARD? Enhanced Air Filters and made many valuable industry contacts. The Company continues to pursue securing sales in markets with stable demand for surgical masks.

In the Canadian dental market, the Company is attending and exhibiting at national and provincial association events to create awareness with dentists, dental hygienists, orthodontists, and others who work in higher risk settings and regularly use surgical masks for protection. Similarly, the company has showcased ZenGUARD? Surgical Masks at retirement community events to create awareness with employees who also work in higher risk environments and regularly use surgical masks.

ZenGUARD? Enhanced Air Filters are currently being assessed by the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for registration under the Pest Control Products Act. Zentek will provide an update as soon as it is available.

Zentek is also currently working with consultants to file an application for ZenGUARD? Enhanced Air Filters with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally in April 2024, the Company filed a 510(k) application with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ZenGUARD?

Surgical Masks. The Company was required to complete additional safety and performance testing for the application to the FDA. The Company has previously announced distribution partnerships for the United States market with Henry Schein and Medwell Solutions pending FDA clearance and will continue to explore other distribution channels.