SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- QuantumSphere, Inc. (OTCQB: QSIM), a leading producer of advanced catalyst technologies designed to improve production efficiencies in large-scale industrial chemical processes, today announced that the Company has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a key patent application related to its advanced FeNIX™ nanocatalyst accelerator technology. The patent covers claims around the application of iron nanocatalysts, applied as a coating onto existing commercial ammonia catalysts, for increased catalytic activity and production efficiency in ammonia synthesis.
Kevin Maloney, President and CEO of QuantumSphere, stated, "We are very pleased to receive the Notice of Allowance from the USPTO for this patent application which further strengthens our market position to improve production efficiencies in large-scale chemical plants. Our growing intellectual property portfolio now protects our proprietary nanocatalyst manufacturing process as well as the commercial end-use application in ammonia synthesis."
Ammonia is one of the world's most critical industrial chemicals, accounting for nearly $100 billion in annual production. Over 80 percent of ammonia produced is used in agricultural fertilizers for global food production, indirectly supplying more than 50 percent of all protein consumed by humans. The demand for ammonia is expected to increase as the global population grows.
Matthew Griffith, QuantumSphere's Vice President of Operations, commented, "One key advantage of the FeNIX nanocatalyst coating is that we are enhancing, not replacing, existing technologies. By increasing the performance of standard commercial catalyst, we offer a competitive advantage to our partners. This means that we are partnering with – not competing with – key industry players."
Due to superior physical characteristics, including extremely high surface area, QuantumSphere's FeNIX iron nanocatalyst accelerator coating significantly increases catalytic activity, leading to improved production efficiencies by reducing energy costs or increasing production output.
The production of ammonia is an energy-intensive process that consumes approximately 5 percent of the world's natural gas supply. According to industry experts, a 5 percent increase in catalytic activity can translate into millions of dollars in additional profits annually for ammonia plant owners and operators. Commercial validation tests in early 2015 by QuantumSphere and a partner demonstrated a 10 to 15 percent increase in catalytic activity and production output – with no modifications to the ammonia production facilities.
QuantumSphere is collaborating on initial commercialization of FeNIX with industry leader and strategic partner Casale, S.A. FeNIX commercialization is expected in the second half of 2016.
In May 2015, QuantumSphere signed a Joint Development Agreement with Casale for development and pre-commercialization work related to FeNIX for the ammonia sector, as well as other QSI-Nano catalysts for end-use applications in the ~$50 billion methanol industry and ~$300 billion olefins industry. Casale supplies the converter technology responsible for producing nearly 40 percent of the world's ammonia and methanol.
About QuantumSphere, Inc.
QuantumSphere (QSI) produces proprietary catalysts designed to improve process efficiencies and output in large scale chemical production facilities (such as Ammonia), with the potential to deliver lower costs and greater profits for chemical producers. QSI's products leverage a patented process to produce a unique high surface area catalyst accelerator technology which improves existing catalyst performance. QSI's technology is applicable to hundreds of chemical plants globally, which represent billions of dollars in annual output. QSI common stock is quoted on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol QSIM. For more information, please visit www.qsinano.com.
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SOURCE QuantumSphere, Inc.
