STUART, FL--(Marketwired - April 16, 2015) - Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: ESPH), a technology development and intellectual property licensing company, today announced that another Ozonix® patent has been approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), bringing Ecosphere's OZONIX® intellectual property portfolio to 11 approved U.S. patents with numerous U.S. and International patents pending.
On April 7, 2015, the USPTO issued a formal Notice of Allowance for Patent # 8,999,154, which is a process patent for treating fluids. This latest patented invention relates to fluid treatment and, in particular, to a water treatment apparatus for destroying aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in Florida's Lake Okeechobee, the C44 Canal and the Indian River Lagoon based on the principle of degradation/disinfection using a combination of Ozone (O3) Injection, Hydrodynamic Cavitation, Acoustic Cavitation and Electrolysis.
Florida's Lake Okeechobee, the largest freshwater lake in the state, continues to be polluted with chemicals and pesticides from surrounding farms and industries. Due to the antiquated earthen dam around the lake, billions of gallons of contaminated water must be released into the Indian River Lagoon and other environmentally sensitive waterways prior to the rainy season each year. This is to prevent a breach in the dam and flooding of its surrounding communities. As a result, the Indian River Lagoon, which is one of the most bio diverse ecosystems in North America with more than 4,000 plant and animal species (including 36 endangered and threatened species), now has critically low salinity levels, toxic algae blooms and dying oyster beds along with depleted native seagrass beds.
Ecosphere's patented OZONIX® water
treatment system and comprehensive Lake Okeechobee solution provides a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process for cleaning contaminated water that is directed into estuaries, lagoons, intracoastal waterways as well as the ocean. OZONIX® can be mounted on a vessel to permit the targeting of algae blooms and has the ability to add millions of gallons of highly-oxygenated/high ORP (Oxygen Reduction Potential) water to the canal so that cleaner water may enter the St. Lucie River estuary and corresponding Indian River Lagoon. Treatment will address various levels of contaminants such as aerobic bacteria, green slime and biofilms.
Dennis McGuire, Chairman and CEO of Ecosphere Technologies, stated, "In September 2013, Ecosphere began researching and developing a water treatment apparatus to treat the heavily contaminated waters being released from Lake Okeechobee. As part of a demonstration for world-renowned Environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau, we demonstrated our ability to treat actual, contaminated C-44 Canal water through our patented OZONIX® technology and as a result, developed a comprehensive plan to use custom engineered OZONIX® barges and vessels to address the problem."
McGuire continued, "What separates our new patented OZONIX® solution from what state and local officials have supported is that Ecosphere's method "treats" the contaminated water in real-time with a chemical-free process. Ecosphere looks forward to making our OZONIX® technology and comprehensive solution available for not only the State of Florida, but also for some of the most endangered bodies of water in the world."
Dean Becker, CEO of ICAP Patent Brokerage, Ecosphere's exclusive intellectual property brokerage firm, stated, "The receipt of Ecosphere's latest OZONIX® patent continues to validate our leadership position in the development of mobile advanced oxidation technologies for use in treating and recycling various sources of contaminated water. As a technology development and licensing company, we look forward to working with and licensing our multi-patented and proven OZONIX® technology to large engineering firms or Environmental Service companies that already work with organizations like the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency to protect some of the world's most endangered bodies of water so that they can continue to be enjoyed by future generations to come."
Ecosphere's patented OZONIX® technology, a revolutionary Ozone-Based Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP), has enabled customers to treat, recycle and reuse over 5 billion gallons of water for more than 1,200 oil and natural gas wells in the United States and Canada, while eliminating millions of gallons of liquid chemicals and generating over $70 million in equipment sales, service and licensing revenue. With expanded customer adoption in the United States, Canada, Brazil and most recently Malaysia, our customers and licensees will be treating waters in the Oil and Gas, Food & Beverage, Landfill Leachate, Marine Port & Terminal and Industrial Wastewater treatment industries. The Company has also manufactured and deployed approximately 50 Ozonix® machines to date for a wide variety of customers and licensing partners.
Ecosphere's patented OZONIX ® technology is protected by U.S. Patent No's. 7,699,994; 7,699,988; 7,785,470; 7,943,087; 8,318,027; 8,721,898; 8,858,064; 8,936,392; 8,906,242; 8,968,577; 8,999,154; with Numerous Patents Pending and can be licensed through ICAP Patent Brokerage, the world's largest intellectual property brokerage firm, for specific field-of-use water treatment applications in the United States and around the world.
For more information on Ecosphere's patented OZONIX® technology, please visit http://www.ecospheretech.com/environmental-engineering-technologies/ozonix
To download a PDF brochure on Ecosphere's patented OZONIX® technology, please visit http://content.stockpr.com/esph2/db/Fact+Sheets/5854/file/03.2015_Ecosphere_Ozonix_Technology.pdf
For more information on Licensing Opportunities for Ecosphere's patented OZONIX® technology, please visit http://www.ecospheretech.com/environmental-engineering-technologies/licensing-opportunities
About Ecosphere Technologies
Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: ESPH) is a technology development and intellectual property licensing company that develops environmental solutions for global water, energy and industrial markets. We help industry increase production, reduce costs, and protect the environment through a portfolio of unique, patented technologies: technologies like Ozonix®, the Ecos PowerCube® and our recently announced Ecos GrowCube™, which are available for exclusive and nonexclusive licensing opportunities across a wide range of industries and applications throughout the world.
For more information, please visit http://www.ecospheretech.com
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