Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Faster, Cheaper, More, & Cleaner Recovery of Metals

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Abstract:
Field Proven Metals Displacement Chromatography (MDC) delivers order of magnitude improvement in metals recovery with clean technology

Nanotechnology Patent for Faster, Cheaper, More, & Cleaner Recovery of Precious, Specialty, & Commodity Metals From Solutions Assigned to Chela Tech, Inc.

Alameda, CA, Chela Tech Laboratory | Posted on March 10, 2006

Chela Tech, Inc. announced today that all rights for separating metals from solutions using United States Patent Number 6,689, 715 for Tethered Polymer Ligands is assigned to Chela Tech, Inc. This invention relates to improved porous solid supports for chromatography and catalysis. The supports are prepared by covalently binding a tether polymer to a solid support, and then blocking the remainder of the support surface with a blocking reagant. The tethered polymer ligands are then covalently bound to the support by graft polymerization reactions.

This invention enables Chela Tech, Inc. to use nano-sand as the basis for high throughput metals displacement chromatography (MDC) for separations of metals from solutions for mining, environmental, and other applications.

The field tested product is a metals specific recovery column with high flow rate, very fast loading and stripping, high selectivity, and long life.

According to Dr. Richard Hammen, CTO: "Our technology in the form of metal displacement chromatography (MDC) columns has been successfully field tested and currently can capture Ag; Al; As; Au; CrO₄⁼; Cu; Ga; Hg; Mn; Ni; Pb; Pt; UO₂⁼; and Zn to non-detectible levels for discard solutions, or to desired economic cut-off levels.

MDC costs per unit metal are essentially the same at any dilution factor.

Bo Varga, VP Marketing explains: "Our initial focus on gold and copper recovery and we project first revenue in 2006. Our products can replace carbon columns and deliver more revenue at a lower cost. We can load the column in a few hours and unload in a few minutes. Our plug-and-play gold recovery skid can be trucked into or out of a mining site for both rapid set-up and tear-down."

Chela Tech plans to provide skid-mounted, plug-and-play metal recovery solutions for the mining industry on a sales, lease, or tolling basis. The technology will be licensed for other applications such as high throughput protein separations, environmental cleanup, indium recovery from FPD etch waste, etc.

Chela Tech technology development was funded over the past 20 years with $3 million invested in IP and product development, about ½ from founders and ½ from NIH, NSF, EPA, & DOE grants, with full rights retained by Chela Tech. Two fundamental US patents are issued and others are pending or in process.

Chela Tech is talking with investors as of February, 2006 regarding the funding required to rapidly build a business of major value to the global mining industry.

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About Chela Tech, Inc.:
Chela Tech, Inc. is a Silicon Valley based company founded to deliver much faster & lower cost recovery of precious, commodity, and specialty metals from ores by commercializing patented nano spiderweb ion-exchange products based on "clean, energy-saving technology."

ChelaTech's management team includes Dr. Rich Hammen, Ph.D. CTO, prior with Vestar Research, Inc. (now NEXSTAR, NASDAQ), SRI, and JPL; Bo Varga, VP Marketing, prior with the NanoSIG; and Ken Epstein, VP Business Development, a principal with www.newcap.com and prior a senior venture manager at Dow Chemical Company.

Professional advisors include IP attorney Richard Trecartin of www.Dorsey.com and corporate attorney Mitch Zuklie of www.Orrick.com.

For more information, please click here.

Contact:
Bo Varga
Vice-President, Marketing
Cell: 415-260-6480
Office: 650-747-9238
Email: bvarga@chelatech.biz
www.chelatech.biz

Media contact:
Sandra Kay Helsel, Ph.D.
SK Helsel & Associates
Tel: 520-325-4636
Email: SKHelsel@SKHelsel.com
www.SKHelsel.com

Copyright © Chela Tech

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