ZEN Graphene Solutions Awarded $1,000,000 Grant for Graphene-Infused Concrete Applications Research

Thunder Bay, May 8, 2019 - ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (TSXV: ZEN) ("ZEN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $1,000,000 grant that will accelerate ZEN's graphene-enhanced concrete research and development project. The grant will potentially help the Company achieve its goal to provide innovative cement-based composite products to the Ontario market by possibly early 2020. The grantor will reimburse 50% up to a maximum of $1,000,000 spent by ZEN on relevant expenses directly related to graphite purification, graphene production research, concrete additive research and large-scale graphene-enhanced concrete testing.

ZEN is currently developing a graphene-enhanced concrete additive in collaboration with the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia-Okanagan campus that has the potential to increase the strength of concrete by 40%. The graphene additive also has the potential to reduce the amount of concrete required in numerous concrete applications thereby contributing to greenhouse gas emission reductions by the concrete industry. In addition, the graphene additive has the potential to make concrete more durable resulting in infrastructure that will resist cracking related to freeze-thaw cycles and salt corrosion which are key attributes relevant to Canadian usage. The Company is working towards commercialization of this graphene application with a business plan to potentially provide significant volumes of graphene to the concrete industry at a competitive cost.

Dr. Francis Dubé commented: "This $1,000,000 reimbursement grant will accelerate ZEN's innovation for graphene applications through game-changing research and a vibrant collaboration between industry and academia helping to launch the next generation of products and jobs. I thank the entire ZEN team for securing this grant which validates the business plan to accelerate our graphene-enhanced concrete application towards potentially successful commercialization."

The tailings study results (see February 21, 2019 press release) were not included in the grant submission as results were not known at the time. However, the encouraging initial test results indicate that the use of Albany Graphite tailings as a partial cement replacement has additional commercial potential. Preliminary testing has indicated that as a 10% partial cement replacement, the tailings actually increased the strength of the concrete at the 56 day mark by 4.23%. The Company will continue to work to develop innovative graphene concrete additives that will benefit the construction industry and the environment.

About ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd.

ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. is an emerging graphene technology company with a focus on development of the unique Albany Graphite Project. This precursor graphene material provides the company with a competitive advantage in the potential graphene market as independent labs in Japan, UK, Israel, USA and Canada have demonstrated that ZEN's Albany Graphite/Naturally PureTM easily converts (exfoliates) to graphene, using a variety of simple mechanical and chemical methods.

For further information:

Francis Dubé, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +1 (289) 821-2820
Email: drfdube@zengraphene.com

To find out more on ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd., please visit our website at www.ZENGraphene.com. A copy of this news release and all material documents in respect of the Company may be obtained on ZEN's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.ca.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "potential", "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", "possibly" or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to ZEN and ZEN provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although ZEN believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. ZEN disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Company's full disclosure can be found at https://www.zenyatta.ca/disclaimer/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44629