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BATTELLE FERRATE TECHNOLOGY PROVEN IN PILOT SCALE TEST
Ferratec, Electrosynthesis produce long-awaited potassium ferrate for large-scale production and sales
October 2, 2009

Columbus, OH-The wait is over. Ferratec and R&D partner Electrosynthesis have successfully scaled up Battelle's ferrate process technology, which means the powerful chemical oxidizer that was once nearly impossible to get in large quantities is now available by the kilogram. Battelle had shown the material, valuable to chemists the world over, could be produced in bench-scale quantities with their process. Ferratec licensed the process and now, with partner Electrosynthesis, has successfully completed pilot-scale trials and is ready to move to full-scale production.

"Based on this initial pilot-scale work, we are ready to continue scale-up so that ferrate can be manufactured in commercial quantities," said Andy Wolter, principle partner of Ferratec. "We're eager to see broad adoption of Ferratec brand ferrate in the marketplace."

Potassium ferrate(VI) (K₂FeO₄) has many applications, including as a biocide, as a powerful oxidizer in organic synthesis and as a water treatment compound. Until now, potassium ferrate's use has been much desired but extremely limited because it was impossible to obtain in large, stable quantities at a practical price. Discovered 300 years ago, potassium ferrate has been known as a powerful oxidizing agent but there has not been a cost-effective and high-yield manufacturing process-until now.

Unlike other potassium ferrate sources, typically created in liquid or slurry forms and only in bench scale quantities, Ferratec brand ferrate is 95 percent pure, contains no chlorides or other halogen impurities and is shelf stable. An additional attraction of ferrate is that it is environmentally friendly because its decomposition byproduct basically is rust. Because ferrate now can be manufactured in kilogram quantities, Ferratec (a subsidiary of The Incubation Factory, expects to sell the product well below current market pricing.

Spencer Pugh, Battelle's vice president and manager of Industrial and International Markets, said, "We are very pleased with the outstanding scale-up work done by Electrosynthesis and the dedication shown by our licensee Ferratec."