• Data shows new technology removes hazardous contaminants from water better than current media
CLEVELAND, OH, April 14, 2008 -- MAR Systems, LLC, a Cleveland-based company, was issued United States Patent No. 7,341,667 on March 11, 2008, for certain processes for reducing the level of arsenic in aqueous liquids, such as industrial fluid waste streams. MAR Systems has commercialized its Sorbster™ brand of products for use in these and other processes. Claude Kennard, MAR Systems CEO, is a co-inventor of the media that extracts arsenic, mercury or other heavy metals from waste fluid streams.
Media is the term used for the product that extracts contaminants from water and industrial fluid waste streams. Iron oxide is currently the most used media in water treatment facilities.
"The data shows that Sorbster™ removes arsenic, mercury or other heavy metals faster than the iron oxide media, and contact time is 90 percent faster," said Kennard. "Another great advantage of Sorbster™ is that the media can be completely recycled after the media is spent."
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which developed the technology with Kennard, was also an assignee of the patent.
"This technology embraces the concepts of industrial ecology by using a spent material previously destined for the landfill for additional applications," EPA chemist Michael Gonzalez said in a written statement.
Kennard added that MAR Systems' technology is also safer for the environment.
"The world is demanding a more eco-friendly water treatment solution, and Sorbster™ is answering the call," Kennard said. "This product meets or exceeds U.S. EPA standards for contaminants in water, at a lower cost and with no negative impact on our environment due to the fact that it can be completely recycled."
The effects of contaminants in drinking water, such as arsenic, have been well-documented recently. In 2006, the EPA set the arsenic standard for drinking water at 10 parts per billion to protect consumers served by public water systems from the effects of long-term, chronic exposure to arsenic, which can include cancer of the bladder, lungs and kidneys.
"This is great news for MAR Systems," said Jerry Frantz, JumpStart's Managing Entrepreneur-in-Residence. "The company now has significant intellectual property protection as they enter the water purification market. Clearly, this patent award validates the uniqueness of MAR Systems' approach to removing metal contaminants from water and industrial fluid waste streams."
MAR Systems is also seeking patent protection for the removal of mercury from aqueous liquids.
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