AXIAL VECTOR ENERGY JOINT VENTURE
PARTNER, PETROSONICS LLC, AWARDED MULTIPLE PATENTS IN EUROPEAN UNION;
PATENTED PROCESS USES HIGH POWER SONIC ENERGY TO REDUCE SULFUR, NITROGEN,
AND TRACE METALS IN PETROLEUM WHILE ALSO INCREASING GRAVITY AND VOLUME. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (BUSINESS WIRE) - April 16, 2009 - Axial Vector Energy Corporation ("AVEC") (Pink Sheets: AXVC) (Frankfurt: BAE1) announced today that its PETRO-AVEC LLC JV partner, Petrosonics LLC, was recently awarded European Patent Number 1 668 095/04 781 388.6, protecting the process by which sulfur and nitrogen bearing compounds are removed from diesel oil fractions through the use of sonic energy and an oxidizing agent, absent an aqueous phase. It further protects a related process for the removal of the resultant oxidized sulfur and nitrogen contaminants. The patent will remain in effect until August 17, 2029. Coupled with the earlier award of European Patent Number 1 635 924 B1, intellectual property protection is now in place in the EU for removing sulfur and nitrogen, with or without an aqueous phase, with or without an oxidizing agent and with or without frequency limitations on the sonic equipment at the wellhead, along a pipeline or in a refinery. The process uses high power sonic energy in a moderate temperature, atmospheric pressure environment to reduce sulfur, nitrogen, and trace metals in petroleum while also reducing oil density. The process increases API (American Petroleum Institute) gravity (least specific gravity = highest API gravity) and volume. Sour (greater than ½ percent by weight sulfur) crude is rendered less sour, more useable product is extracted from a 42 gallon barrel of oil, and the volume of treated crude oil expands. The process is fully supported by highly affordable, reliable, available, durable, computerized commercial off the shelf equipment from Germany. The recently awarded European patents complement U.S. Patent 7,081,196 and a number of patents and patents pending in 42 different oil producing and oil refining nations. These 42 countries represent 55.7% of all crude oil production, 30% of world crude oil reserves, and 40% of the world's refining capacity. Over 1,500 claims remain pending around the world. Dr. Mark Cullen, Managing Director at Petrosonics, LLC stated, "Our second European patent protects a substantial portion of our technology for removing contaminants from diesel fuel and diesel fuel represents a large portion of the output of a typical refinery. We are particularly gratified with these awards in the European Union in that, as a major partner in the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the actions of the EU make award in the other Patent Cooperation Treaty countries that much easier. Given that the process is fully protected, is less expensive to deploy and operate than traditional technologies and is fully supported by commercial, off the shelf equipment, we see no barriers to licensing it to end users now." AVEC Chairman Mr. Ahmed Khalifa stated, "We are ecstatic. This technology is the first major advancement in refining technology in decades and has great potential. We look forward to rapid licensing through Dubai-based PETRO-AVEC LLC." About PETRO-AVEC LLC PETRO-AVEC LLC is a joint venture between AVEC and Petrosonics LLC to develop, finance and market Petrosonics sulfur removal technology globally. The joint venture is owned 60% by Petrosonics LLC and 40% by AVEC. About Petrosonics, LLC Petrosonics, LLC is a privately held, U.S. based oil refining and production technology company. Petrosonics' patented products and services utilize high power ultrasound energy in order to reduce sulfur, nitrogen, and trace metals in refinery intermediates and product streams. Intermediates and product streams receiving the Petrosonics treatment show reductions in oil density and viscosity, reduced hydrogen use/loss, and increases in API specific gravity and volume. The proprietary Petrosonics technology has additional application in treating and/or pretreating sour crude oils. Petrosonics was formed in 2001 by Mark Cullen, M.D. Dr. Cullen was previously the President and CEO of SulphCo (AMEX SUF). Today, Petrosonics has acquired and continues to expand its patent portfolio for all of the significant intellectual property associated with ultrasound assisted oxidative desulphurization of oil fractions and the upgrade and desulphurization of crude oil. About Axial Vector Energy Corporation Axial Vector Energy Corporation (AVEC) is a global solutions provider that owns, develops, invest in and licenses revolutionary technologies including, internal combustion engine and electric power generator technologies that have unlimited potential in military, industrial and commercial applications. AVEC and its partners are positioned to become unrivalled leaders in international engine and energy markets with technologies that produce more efficient, cost effective, environmentally sensitive and versatile solutions for use in a wide variety of important applications around the world. For Further Information Please Contact: Axial Vector Engine Corporation
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