Strong performance of the AmmEL System... ENPAR Technologies Inc.: Successful Ammonia Treatment Demonstration Project at a Canadian Mining Operation
Guelph, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 17, 2014) - Dr. Gene Shelp, President and CEO of ENPAR Technologies Inc. (TSXV: ENP) ("ENPAR" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce that the Company has recently completed a very successful demonstration project with its AmmEL ammonia treatment technology at a Canadian mining site. The versatile, state-of-the-art AmmEL demonstration scale unit was designed to treat approximately 100 m3 per day of mine effluent containing elevated levels of ammonia.
The AmmEL-LC Electrochemical Ammonia Treatment System is a two-stage process consisting of ion exchange followed by electrochemical oxidation of ammonia to environmentally friendly nitrogen gas (N2). Designed to achieve high ammonia removal rates in industrial and municipal wastewater, groundwater sources and industrial process waters, the technology does not produce nitrate, a known carcinogen, or the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Unlike conventional biological systems, the technology is also not affected by low water temperatures (<5°C) and has the ability to achieve very low ammonia levels in treated streams. The system can be implemented as a full-scale, stand-alone treatment plant or as a complementary upgrade to conventional methods at new or existing water treatment facilities.
To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3648/12541_enpar1enhanced.jpg
Pictured above is the state-of-the-art AmmEL-LC 100 m3 per day demonstration scale unit constructed in a 40-foot shipping container used for the study.
The very positive results from the four month demonstration study showed that the AmmEL system was capable of reducing inlet ammonia levels to effluent ammonia limits, such as the federal Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.
Mine waste water is commonly treated by slake lime (calcium oxide) to remove ions of concern. The treated water is generally characterized by an increase in calcium which is often expressed as water hardness. Water hardness is known to interfere with the efficacy of electro-chemical water treatment processes.
ENPAR incorporated numerous innovative components into the pilot unit to successfully manage the high hardness water encountered at the site. One such component was a new modified ion exchange material which ENPAR developed and studied extensively in house for such applications. The ion exchange material minimizes adsorption of hardness-causing ions (e.g. calcium, magnesium) from the feed water, thereby limiting the amount of these ions transferred to the regeneration circuit and electrochemical reactor, and reducing the potential for fouling. Another innovation was the incorporation of a proprietary self-cleaning electrochemical reactor. This combination of ion exchange material and reactor design allowed the demonstration unit to operate for the duration of the four month study without cleaning and maintenance of the electrochemical reactor or any loss in reactor efficiency.
To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3648/12541_enpar2enhanced.jpg
The photos above show an electrode from a standard electrochemical reactor (SER) (left) and an electrode from ENPAR's self-cleaning electro-chemical reactor SCER) (right). After 11 days of operation, the SER electrode is coated with a calcium precipitate. In contrast, after 4 months of operation, the SCER electrode is clean with trace amounts of calcium precipitates only.
Dr. Shelp commented, "Although details of the demonstration test are subject to a confidentiality agreement between ENPAR and the operator of the Canadian mine site, ENPAR is extremely pleased with the results of the demonstration program. The relatively complex nature of mine water is often characterized by very high hardness and variable water chemistry. The strong performance of the AmmEL System in this high water hardness application indicates the potential for broad application across municipal and industrial water treatment sectors. Management is confident that this success will help establish a foothold in these sectors for this high-reliability technology, and lead to sales to the mining industry at large."
Funding for the AmmEL Demonstration Project was provided by The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation through the Innovation Demonstration Fund.
About ENPAR Technologies Inc.
ENPAR is a "Technology Company" applying its patented and proprietary "Electrochemical Technologies" to the treatment of waste water, desalination water and drinking water contaminated by metals or nutrients, i.e., nitrate/ammonia associated with the mining, metal processing, chemical, agricultural, municipal and waste management sectors. The common shares trade on Tier ll of the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ENP".
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Dr. Gene S. Shelp, Ph.D., P.Geo.
President and CEO
Tel: (519) 836-6155
Fax: (519) 836-5683
E-mail: gshelp@enpar-tech.com
Web Site: www.enpar-tech.com
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbour" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause ENPAR Technologies Inc. results to differ materially from expectations. These include risks relating to market fluctuations, property performance and other risks. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Certain statements contained in this press release and in certain documents incorporated by reference into this press release constitute forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and "confident" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. ENPAR believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference into, this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. ENPAR undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
