In other news below:
-- Nasiriyah drainage pump station turned over to Iraqi government
-- Wavefront completes acquisition of Top Gun Sand Pumps & Rentals
-- American Water offers service line protection to Trenton Water Works customers
-- Contract extended for Washington Group International team at DOE Savannah River site
-- Demand from new EU accession nations to drive European centrifugal pump sales growth
-- Top 50 infrastructure projects in Latin America total $42.14 billion in value
-- SecureWave to present best practices for removable media security at Data Protection Summit
-- Cyco Software, DataCore Technology to exhibit at MUWG 2007
• World Waste Technologies applies for patent for production of alcohol, including ethanol, through gas process -- Company also forms technology advisory board comprised of scientific and industry experts and provides updated operational information -- SAN DIEGO, March 5, 2007 -- World Waste Technologies Inc. today announced it has filed a provisional patent covering an energy self sufficient process for the treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) into the production of mixed alcohols (including ethanol) through a synthetic gas and catalyst process. The process also includes the co-generation of renewable electricity from a producer gas as well as a process for efficiently separating the resulting mixed alcohols from hydrocarbons and other liquids.
Separately, the Company announced the formation of a Technical Advisory Board to assist it in advancing its business of creating usable commodity products including ethanol and co-generated renewable electricity from municipal solid waste. William A. Farone, Ph.D., and Lee Torrens, along with World Waste director David Gutacker, have agreed to serve on this advisory board.
Advisory Board Additions
Dr. Farone is focused on assisting World Waste in identifying chemically and economically preferred methodologies for producing ethanol and other renewable energy products from municipal solid waste. He's the president and CEO of Applied Power Concepts Inc., a company that provides technology development and analysis services and has expertise in chemical and biochemical process development and optimization, particularly in the areas of alternative energy, biotechnology for energy crops, and alternate liquid fuels (ethanol, methanol). He was formerly director of Applied Research for Philip Morris Inc., and also served as director of Scientific Research at Lever Brothers Company. He has numerous patents and technical publications, a bachelor's and master's degree in chemistry and a doctorate in physical chemistry.
Lee Torrens is focused on assisting World Waste in the scale-up and development of facilities that produce ethanol and other energy products from municipal solid waste. Torrens has an extensive background in developing renewable energy facilities, independent power production facilities, cogeneration facilities, waste to energy facilities, and medical waste facilities. Formerly, Torrens served as executive vice president of Ogden Martin Systems where he was responsible for all project development activities at a time when that company developed eight major projects worth over $840 million. In addition, Torrens is currently a Director and Principal of JM Dutton & Associates, an independent equity research company. Torrens has a B.S. and a Masters degree in Civil Engineering.
"The skills and background of both Bill Farone and Lee Torrens are strong assets for World Waste as we continue our efforts to develop projects and technologies for the transformation of municipal solid waste (MSW) into beneficial products, including fuel grade ethanol, co-generated renewable energy, and paper pulp," said CEO John Pimentel. "We have already benefited from their efforts through their help in our provisional patent application for a new method of creating fuel alcohols including ethanol from MSW through a synthetic gas intermediary step, and our work with various gasification processes."
"By utilizing our Anaheim Plant and the Applied Power Concepts labs in Anaheim as our learning centers, we believe that we have gained valuable experience in understanding how to commercialize the process of transforming residual and commercial MSW into beneficial products and energy," said Pimentel.
To date, World Waste has focused on converting MSW into a cellulose biomass which the company currently refines into an unbleached fiber known in the paper industry as "wetlap pulp". It has also been investing in potential improvements to the core process designed to produce fuel grade alcohols, including ethanol, as well as processes for co-generating renewable electricity.
Ethanol and Co-Generated Renewable Energy
World Waste has also been pursuing the development of various energy products which can be produced from MSW. One process which it believes has potential for successful commercialization involves using gasification technologies to produce a synthetic gas from various products in our process. This gas may then be passed through a catalyst environment to produce fuel grade alcohols, primarily ethanol, with some portion of the gas stream co-generating renewable electricity. This same basic approach can also be used to produce hydrogen, a critical element in many current industrial processes and to several future clean energy platforms. In this area, the company recently filed a provisional patent covering a process and certain conditions that may maximize the yield of the fuel alcohols including the beneficial co-generation of renewable electricity through a producer gas which may drive a steam or a gas turbine.
Also in the ethanol area, in addition to the above process for producing fuel alcohols through gasification, the company is investigating alternative pathways for transforming its cellulose biomass product into ethanol using various acid and enzymatic hydrolysis processes.
Pulp Process
In the MSW/cellulose biomass to wetlap pulp product area at its Anaheim, CA, Plant, World Waste has processed, over a seven month period, over 2,500 tons of MSW into cellulose biomass, which has been refined into over 400 tons of wetlap pulp. Although we have not yet been able to produce product in commercial quantities, the wetlap product has been supplied to three corrugating medium manufacturers in Southern California over this period on a test basis. The customers have recently provided positive feedback on the pulp quality and specifications, based upon these limited test quantities. The company recently developed a commercial relationship with one of these customers whereby that customer, although not contractually obligated to do so, is currently purchasing all the product it's capable of producing at market prices consistent with terms commonly used for the sale of recycled corrugated containers, OCC, exported from the Los Angeles region.
The start up and operation of the Anaheim Plant was made possible through a series of equipment upgrades financed from the proceeds of our Series B offering completed in the first half of 2006. "We deeply appreciate the support of our investors which has enabled us to start operations at the Anaheim Plant. This has provided us actual operating data and insights as to what additional investments would be required to make the Anaheim Plant support full capacity operations, as well as insights on the critical improvements which must be included in the design and construction of future pulp-based plants for those future plants to generate sufficient financial returns," said Pimentel.
Challenges
Key challenges that faced at the Anaheim Plant include an unexpectedly high level of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) from organic wastes in the wastewater generated in the pulp screening and cleaning process, and design issues related to the steam classification vessels which will require some level of re-engineering and repairs to enable sustained operations. These factors currently restrict full scale, profitable operations at the Anaheim Plant and have led to management's decision to reduce the workforce and to run the plant on an intermittent basis for process improvement trials, technology demonstration, product development, and other research and marketing purposes. These restricted operations allow us to continue evaluating several initiatives, some of which include additional capital investment, in an attempt to improve these conditions and to improve the economics of operating the Anaheim plant.
To manage the continued operations of the Anaheim Plant and to lead the planning and design for future plants, Dr. James Ferris, World Waste chief operating officer and president (and board member), has taken on increased responsibility at the Anaheim facility. Mr. Fred Lundberg has stepped down from his position as senior vice president of engineering, but will continue to serve the company in an advisory capacity.
Based on its research and development including our accumulated experience from operating the Anaheim Plant, World Waste believes the characteristics necessary to profitably produce pulp include: a relatively high volume of MSW and a larger plant enabling a larger scale operation, a desire by the community to increase recycling rates to minimize the amount of this waste disposed of in landfills, feedstock composition which includes increased paper products, a fully scoped on-site water treatment facility, and higher landfill tipping fees than we experience in Anaheim, CA.
Regarding the paper "wetlap" product line, World Waste has continued its discussions with various paper and solid waste companies and government agencies to determine where the proper combination of operating characteristics can be achieved to pursue a larger scale wetlap production facility in future locations. While developing the process and market for wetlap, the company has also been actively pursuing end markets for our raw cellulose biomass material prior to its use as a feedstock for making wetlap pulp. This would allow it to avoid the capital and operating costs of a water treatment facility to address the BOD issue.
World Waste Technologies Inc. (www.worldwasteintl.com) is seeking to commercialize patented and proprietary technologies that management believes will allow a significant amount of municipal solid waste to be recycled into beneficial products. A major component of MSW is paper-based material, hydrocarbon-based material, and other high energy value feedstocks. The company's technology currently converts paper, cardboard, and paper packaging found in MSW into a cellulose biomass. This cellulose biomass can be further processed into wetlap and sold to box and paper manufacturers. The company also is developing technologies which can be used in transforming MSW into a gas capable of creating renewable energy products such as fuel grade alcohols (including ethanol) and co-generated renewable electricity. It recently completed construction of its initial facility in Anaheim, CA.
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Among other recent headlines:
• Nasiriyah drainage pump station turned over to Iraqi government -- AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq, March 5, 2007 -- In a simple ceremony recently, the Iraqi government's Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) took responsibility for completing the Nasiriyah Drainage Pump Station (NDPS) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) southern district. The pump station, a critical project for improving agriculture in the south, has progressed to being 70% complete, according to Lt. Col. Dale Johnson, Camp Adder area engineer, USACE. He emphasized that when USACE and its prime contractor, Washington International Inc. (WI) reinvigorated the project in August 2005, construction at the pump station had been touch-and-go since 1992. It began in 1983 with a Brazilian contractor who worked for three years and was forced to stop building because of political upheavals at the time...
Also see: "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Budget Process Must Be Transformed, Academy Panel Finds"
• Wavefront completes acquisition of Top Gun Sand Pumps & Rentals -- EDMONTON, AB, Canada, March 5, 2007 -- Wavefront Energy and Environmental Services Inc., a leader in technology development and implementation for improved oil recovery and optimized groundwater remediation is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Top Gun Sand Pumps & Rentals Ltd., an arms length, privately held Saskatchewan company. Top Gun has been in operation since 1995 as an oil service company in the heavy oil industry, operating primarily in western Canada. Top Gun offers rentals and sales of sand pumps and associated well bore pumping and cleaning equipment. The sand pumps offered by Top Gun are known as Continuous Sand Extraction Systems (CSES). The CSES approach is an established alternative to conventional pumping equipment for use in heavy oil wells that exhibit chronic plugging from debris such as shale, pyrite, coal, waxes, etc. The CSES method reduces, and in some cases prevents, plugging from occurring resulting in wells going from zero or very low volumes of oil production to production levels where the wells are considered economic successes. Top Gun's management reported, unaudited, consolidated revenue of $810,577 with net income (before taxes) of $223,989 for the six months ending Jan. 31. For fiscal year ended July 31, 2006 Top Gun's management reported, unaudited, consolidated revenue of $1,179,798 earnings with net income (before taxes) of $203,300. Total consideration, or the sales price, for the acquisition was CDN $1,200,000 [US$1.02 million]...
• American Water offers service line protection program to Trenton Water Works customers -- Company's LineSaver Program now available to over 58,000 customers -- VOORHEES, NJ, March 5, 2007-- American Water, the largest water services provider in North America, today announced the availability of its LineSaver ™ Service Line Protection Program to customers of the Trenton Water Works. Following a Request for Proposal, American Water Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of American Water, was selected by the City of Trenton to make the program available. The LineSaver program will be available to over 58,000 Trenton Water Works customers who reside in the City of Trenton and in the outlying municipalities of Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence and Hopewell in Mercer County...
Also see: "American Water accepting applications for environmental grant program in Pennsylvania"
• Washington Group International team gains contract extension at DOE Savannah River site -- BOISE, ID, & AIKEN, SC, March 5, 2007 -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Washington Savannah River Company (WSRC) -- a subsidiary of Washington Group International -- agreed on a contract extension for management and operation of DOE's Savannah River Site through June 30, 2008. WSRC has been the management and operating contractor at the site since 1989. The Savannah River Site, a 310-square-mile site located near Aiken, S.C., primarily conducts missions for DOE's Office of Environmental Management and for the National Nuclear Security Administration. The contract also includes management of the Savannah River National Laboratory, DOE's lead laboratory for environmental research and development. The total contract value during the 18-month extension period, retroactive to Jan. 1, is estimated to be $2.3 billion depending on final federal budgets...
• Demand from new EU accession nations to drive expansion of European centrifugal pump markets -- LONDON, March 5, 2007 -- The recent accession of several East European countries to the EU is the most significant driver in the European centrifugal pumps markets. Growth in end-user segments such as municipal water, together with increased investment in infrastructure, will sustain levels of demand. Overall, increasing customer focus on quality will support steady long-term market growth and will help to overcome challenges such as competition from low-cost Asian manufacturers, as well as pricing and quality pressures. Frost & Sullivan finds that the "European Centrifugal Pumps Markets" earned revenues of US$4.800 billion in 2006 and estimates this to reach US$5.87 billion in 2013. Most parts of western and central Europe are fully compliant with EU directives on water quality and energy efficiency. Efforts by EU member states from Eastern Europe to comply with these regulations will support long-term revenue growth in the centrifugal pumps markets. In addition, stringent environmental regulations such as emissions control will promote demand for high-quality products, including centrifugal pumps, in sectors ranging from oil and gas to power generation. One of the key challenges that manufacturers face is intensifying competition from low-cost Asian manufacturers and the resultant pricing pressures. Sectors such as water and wastewater and HVAC are price driven, and have been affected by an influx of low-quality products from India and China...
Also see:
-- "Increasing Demand for Sensors across Numerous End-user Industries Drives North Asian Market Growth"
-- "Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems: From Niche Technology to Standard Part of Infrastructure Security"
• Top 50 infrastructure projects in Latin America total $42.14 billion in value -- 5° Annual Latin American Leadership Forum set for March 13-15 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic -- WASHINGTON, DC, March 5, 2007 -- CG/LA Infrastructure LLC, the world leader in strategic infrastructure consulting, announced today the release of the project list for the 5° Annual Latin American Leadership Forum, to be held March 13-15, 2007 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Project developers present the Top 50 Projects in Latin America, and the Top 10 Projects in the host country. Overall enterprise value for all projects is $42.14 billion. "After five years of growth these are very strong projects offering an extraordinary range of business opportunities for participants in engineering, finance and equipment firms from executives of 35 countries around the world," according to Norman Anderson, president & CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure and the Latin American Leadership Forum. The Top 50 Projects: Projects were selected from throughout the region, with a total of 17 countries presenting projects -- the highest total in the five-year history of the Leadership Forum...
• SecureWave to present best practices for removable media security challenges at 2007 Data Protection Summit -- SecureWave's Dee Liebenstein to outline how to protect against data leakage, introduction of malware and other threats posed by increased use of removable storage media -- HERNDON, VA, March 5, 2007 SecureWave, a worldwide leader in endpoint security, today announced that Dee Liebenstein, director of product management, will lead a speaking session at the 2007 Data Protection Summit, March 12-15, in Irvine, CA. Liebenstein will discuss the security threats associated with the use of removable storage media in the enterprise and how to minimize these risks without hindering productivity. The session, entitled "Creating Data Sanctuary: Securing the Corporate Endpoint Against Removable Media and Rogue Applications," is part of a tutorial designed to educate participants on a variety of proactive security measures across the data lifecycle. Rapid adoption of portable storage devices and removable media -- including iPods, PDAs and USB memory sticks -- has created a new pain point for security professionals tasked with maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and availability of sensitive corporate information...
Also see: "SafeBoot joins SecureWave hardware vendor partnership program"
• Cyco Software, DataCore Technology to exhibit at MUWG 2007 -- The two will showcase Cyco AutoManager MAXIMO Module at MAXIMO Utility Working Group Workshop -- ATLANTA, March 5, 2007 -- Cyco Software, a leading global software company offering Engineering Content Management (ECM) solutions, today announced it's showcasing its Cyco AutoManager MAXIMO Module at this year's MAXIMO Utility Working Group (MUWG) Workshop on March 6-7 at the Hilton Phoenix East Hotel in Mesa, AZ, in partnership with DataCore Technology, a specialist in implementing electronic data management systems. The MUWG is an industry group representing over 145 utility companies, counties and cities worldwide that exchange information related to the implementation and application of MRO Software's MAXIMO asset management system. The MUWG holds two workshops for MAXIMO users each year, featuring a series of presentations and vendor exhibits. The combination of MAXIMO and Cyco AutoManager Meridian allows the maintenance data management functionality of MAXIMO to connect with the engineering content management capabilities of Cyco AutoManager Meridian...
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