ATLANTA, Aug. 10, 2005 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services Inc. has signed a development licensing agreement with the University of California, the manager of the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, for its ChemDen technology, which is capable of converting nitrates into nitrogen gas using non-thermal methods. This ChemDen technology employs two patented methods, one utilizing chemical reduction, the other an electrolytic method to destroy nitrates and other energetic compounds.
Waste containing nitrates is a growing global problem. Environmentally they cause eutrophication in lakes and bodies of water. In drinking water nitrates are becoming a growing problem that causes several serious health effects. Nitrates are found in nuclear waste as a result of the reprocessing process for nuclear fuel and weapons. Non-thermal processes for treating low and higher concentrate of nitrates are lacking.
Dr. Centofanti, Chairman and CEO, stated, "The Los Alamos process, when combined with other Perma-Fix technologies, offers a viable destruction option for nitrates in radioactive waste. As part of our research we will also examine the use of this technology for water treatment and industrial waste."
Perma-Fix Environmental Services Inc. (www.perma-fix.com) is a national environmental services company, providing unique mixed waste and industrial waste management services. The Nuclear Segment provides radioactive and mixed waste treatment services to hospitals, research laboratories and institutions, numerous federal agencies including the Departments of Energy and Defense and nuclear utilities. The Industrial Segment provides hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment services for a diverse group of customers including Fortune 500 companies, numerous federal, state and local agencies and thousands of smaller clients. The Company operates eleven major waste treatment facilities across the country.
###
