Environmental Solutions Worldwide Reports Enhanced Test Results in Second-Round of In-House Trials for Enviro Cat Catalytic Converter
14 August 2000
Company Also Receives U.S. Patent For Its Proprietary Spark Plug Technology
MARKHAM, Ontario - ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS WORLDWIDE, INC. (OTC BB:ESWW), announced today enhanced performance results during second-stage in-house emissions testing for its Enviro Cat catalytic converter and also reported that the Company has received a U.S. patent for its proprietary spark plug technology."This is another significant advance in the development and testing of the Enviro Cat catalytic converter," stated Bengt Odner, Chief Executive Officer of Environmental Solutions Worldwide. "The U.S. patent for our proprietary spark plug technology, the basis for another of our future key products, will enable us to begin immediate development."
Mark Nicole, the Company's Chief Operating Officer, noted the significance of the test results on the Enviro Cat. "The second stage test results demonstrate that further improvements can easily be achieved by adjusting the proprietary compounds used in our Enviro Cat technology," Mr. Nicole stated. "We are now concentrating on bringing full-sized converters through the production phase as soon as scientifically possible."
Environmental Solutions Worldwide said it received an Official Patent Grant for U.S. Patent No. 6,072,607 for its spark plug. The Company's new titanium spark plug, combined with fuel injection, works with 46,000 volts. By comparison, trucks and passenger vehicles currently are equipped with spark plugs producing 23,000 volts.
ENVIRO CAT PROGRESS
Further extensive testing on the Enviro Cat followed a successful first round of initial in-house trials, the results of which were announced in early July. The second round of tests were conducted on a variety of second-stage catalytic converter prototypes, and led to the following conclusions:
| -- | 1. Hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, as expected, were significantly reduced when compared to first-round testing after the high-temperature-resistant paste used to wrap the converter cakes was fired in a kiln. NO(x), or nitrous oxide emissions, also were significantly cut. |
| -- | 2. Emissions of critical gases fell within Pennsylvania Test Emission Standards, the same as U.S. standards. |
| -- | 3. Back pressure results were comparable with current substrates made by original equipment manufacturers |
| -- | 4. Early indications at different operating temperatures show encouraging results on cold start performance. |
| -- | 5. The metallic content of the substrate (converter cakes) can be varied with minimal effect on structure strength. The optimal metallic content can now be achieved without strength reduction. Further tests on full-sized converters will identify the optimized percentages. FUTURE TESTING |
| -- | 1. Due to the successful results, the second stage of prototype production and testing is now complete. |
| -- | 2. The Company has received a previously ordered dye from Germany and production on full-sized extrusion equipment is due to begin this week. Testing on these full-size prototypes will follow directly. |
| -- | 3. Full-size prototypes will be sent to a testing laboratory approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, auto manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers of exhaust systems and catalytic converter manufacturers under non-analysis agreements for confirmation of in-house testing results. |
| -- | 4. Full-sized prototypes of different lengths will be tested to determine comparative efficiency. |
The prototypes used in the latest series of tests were similar to those used in the first round, except for the 1.5-inch extrusions, which this time were sealed with a properly fired temperature-resistant paste. The binder used in the first round of testing was not fired in a kiln. Even though the overall surface area of the substrates were one-quarter the size of those used in a standard OEM converter, they yielded comparable or even better results. The same vehicle and testing facility were used in both rounds of testing to achieve consistency.
EMISSION RESULTS SUMMARY
EnviroCat(TM) Using Manual
Test Results Standard EGR EGR
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Temperature 220 345 500 565 735 750 650
(degrees)(degrees)(degrees)(degrees)(degrees) (degrees)
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Gases
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NO(x)(ppm) 1152 1237 1437 1512 1512 1444 249
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HC (ppm) 83 64 46 41 52 46 67
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CO (%) 0.74 0.79 0.78 0.20 0.56 0.57 0.63
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CO2 (%) 12.6 11.7 11.8 13.0 13.5 13.6 13.3
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O2 (%) 2.1 3.3 3.1 1.8 0.6 0.6 0.7
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EMISSION RESULTS SUMMARY
PA State
EnviroCat(TM) Minimum
Test Results Limit
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Temperature
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Gases
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NO(x) (ppm) 893
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HC (ppm) 134
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CO (%) 1.13
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CO2 (%) Not Applicable
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O2 (%) Not Applicable
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Environmental Solutions Worldwide, Inc., through its wholly-owned BBL Technologies, Inc., subsidiary, is a developer of proprietary catalytic converter technology used in its prototype Enviro Cat(TM) catalytic converter, which is designed to dramatically reduce toxic emissions, including nitrous oxide, expelled by internal combustion engines. The converter requires no precious metals in the manufacturing process, making it less expensive to produce. The technology enables catalytic converters to operate on all three fuel types, unleaded, diesel and leaded. The Company also has developed a new, highly efficient spark plug with the potential of increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines, reducing toxic emissions while increasing fuel economy. Environmental Solutions holds Canadian patents and U.S. patent pending on its technology and is in the process of obtaining worldwide patent protection.