APYRON TECHNOLOGIES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AWARDED GRANT FOR ARSENIC REMOVAL PROGRAM

ATLANTA - June 28, 1999 APYRON Technologies Inc. (Formerly Project Earth Industries) and the University of Houston (UH) have won a grant to perform a field demonstration of APYRON Technologies' innovative arsenic treatment technology for small drinking water systems. The grant was awarded by the Montana Water Center as part of its Drinking Water Assistance Program for Small Systems funded by the USEPA.

Apyron Technologies, based in Atlanta, Georgia, was selected to perform a field demonstration of its new, low-cost technology for removing arsenic from drinking water. APYRON Technologies' vice president for Technology Commercialization, Greg Gilles, states, "We're excited to have this very timely opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of our new technology with UH and the Montana Water Center." APYRON Technologies' Aqua-Bind™ - ARSENIC is a proprietary alumina-based metal oxide adsorption media that selectively removes the two most common aqueous forms of arsenic, namely arsenite and arsenate. With superior adsorption capacities 5-10 times higher than conventional materials and excellent kinetics, the technology features low relative capital costs, simplicity of operation, flexibility and results in non-hazardous residuals.

APYRON Technologies' partnership with the University of Houston utilizes their depth of first hand experience with arsenic treatment technology. The project's lead University investigator, Dr. Dennis Clifford Ph.D., P.E., is a recognized author and investigator of arsenic removal processes. Dr. Clifford will provide leadership and direction for UH personnel during the two phases of work. Phase I includes a lab study to compare the APYRON Technologies Aqua-BindTM – ARSENIC media with at least two other metal-oxide adsorbents for arsenic. Phase II will involve a field demonstration of the technology.

Arsenic is a well-known toxic element that occurs naturally in regional groundwaters throughout the world. Arsenic treatment is receiving considerable attention in the U.S. as the USEPA is preparing to lower the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic below the present standard of 50 parts per billion (ppb). Based on the recent findings of the National Academy of Sciences, the committee found that EPA's current standard "does not sufficiently protect public health" and "should be lowered "as promptly as possible." The American Water Works Association estimates that approximately 2,200 public drinking water systems could be affected or would be out of compliance if the arsenic MCL were lowered from 50 to 10 ppb. Existing arsenic problems in U.S. public and private water supplies vary geographically. Specific areas include parts of California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, and several northeastern states.

Until now, there have been few, if any, cost effective solutions for existing small community, private or public drinking water supplies to remove arsenic down to the very low levels anticipated with the tougher EPA standard. However, with the combined efforts of these leaders in the field of arsenic removal, a new cost effective solution may soon be demonstrated.

Apyron Technologies, Inc. develops leading-edge adsorbent and catalyst technologies for a broad variety of water and air treatment applications worldwide. APYRON TECHNOLOGIES, Inc. is located at 4030-F Pleasantdale Rd., Atlanta, Ga., 30340

For additional information please contact:

APYRON Technologies, Inc.
Phone: (770) 263-1012
Fax: (770) 300-0191
products@apyron.com





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