Question 1

1. What is the ATS System and Technology?

Accepted Answer

ATS stands for Advanced Thermolysis System, and is a patent pending state of the art system that does not use fire like other pyrolysis systems to disintegrate organic wastes, but instead, creates superheated steam in the absence of oxygen, to convert ALL organic wastes into high value marketable by-products, without any measurable pollution.

A new patent for the Advanced Thermolysis System (“ATS System”) is being designed to convert ALL organic wastes to high quality by-products, such as biochar, carbon black, activated carbon and fuel oil, producing no measurable pollution or ash to be land filled.

Primarily, the enhanced 5th Generation Systems being manufactured today, will be able to process wood biomass or MSW, to produce high quality Carbon Black and/or Activated Carbon, a high value product). The following are some examples and capacities of the ATS systems:
 
(a) the ATS1000 system will process organic wastes of up to 1500kg/hr (operating 24 hours/350 days a year), in conjunction with certain ancillary equipment, depending upon the feedstock being processed, and 
(b) the ATS2000 system will process organic wastes of up to 3000kg/hr (operating 24 hours/350 days a year), in conjunction with certain ancillary equipment, depending upon the feedstock being processed, or 
(c) a combination of (a) plus (b). 
(d) for larger projects, the ATS4000 system will be engineered and the roll out will be ready by late 2024.

The enhanced ATS Technology is designed mainly to answer the global problem of waste management of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste- sewage sludge included), used tires, wood bio-mass, food waste, plastics, etc., while providing high value recycled by-products and usable forms of power.

The enhanced ATS Technology incorporates a 3 stage process that combines super heated steam, direct heat, indirect heat and a fast Thermolysis process.

The 1st stage temperature is between 300-400C, 2nd stage is between 400-500C, and 3rd stage is between 500-600C, to produce a complete penetration of heat into the feedstock, thereby enabling a superior, fuller and faster decomposition of the feedstock.

Further, the use of super heated steam provides a built in safety feature against particulate combustion and avoids the necessity of a high vacuum system required by all other conventional pyrolysis systems.

The ATS Technology’s 3 stage super heated steam and gasification process makes it perhaps the most efficient method available today, in converting all organic wastes to useful and high value by-products.

The advancement of the feedstock through the 3 stages of the ATS system, dramatically increases the release of volatiles contained in the feedstock (a good thing) and the creation of “thermolized” carbon black or activated carbon.

As well, the ATS 3 stage process eliminates all the unwanted organic residue in the “thermolized” carbon black or activated carbon, with no measurable pollution or CO2 being produced.

Question 2

2. How advanced are the ATS systems?

Accepted Answer

Research in the ATS Technology began over 20 years ago, and today near the town of Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada, the 4th generation of an ATS500 system is in operation. The ATS500 system is capable of processing 500kg/hr of organic feedstock, and the existing ATS500 system is used primarily (a) for test and research purposes, and (b) used commercially to process wood biomass (as British Columbia has an abundance of wood biomass) to produce high quality biochar for the burgeoning biochar market in North America.

The 5th generation ATS1000 and ATS2000 systems are now available. All ATS systems can process used tires, plastics, MSW and other organic wastes.

The number 1000 beside the letters ATS, indicates a processing amount of at least 1000kg/hr of feedstock input, but in actual fact, the average processing amount of feedstock will be up to 1500kg/hr or more of pre-sorted, pre-dried and pre-cut organic wastes.

Likewise for the ATS2000 system, it has the capacity to process of up to 3,000kg/hr of organic waste.

Question 3

3. Is the ATS system the best system available presently for converting organic wastes to other by-products?

Accepted Answer

Definitely Yes. The ATS System is the ONLY system that is capable of converting ALL organic wastes into valuable and marketable by-products, and in many cases, creating a Return on Investment (ROI) to the qualified investor of less than 3 years.
 
Other pyrolysis systems are much more expensive, and as well, do not generate high quality by-products; therefore, using such inferior systems will normally generate a ROI of between 7-9 years for investors.
 
Secondly, our ATS system (using super heated steam) produces no measurable pollution, unlike other pyrolysis systems (using fire) which produces significant polluting emissions.
 
Besides the above two major reasons as to the superiority of our ATS System, there are many more advantages of our ATS System not mentioned here. If you are interested, a Representative of our Company will be able to furnish you a detail list of the advantages of the ATS System as compared to other systems.
 
For a comparison of 6 methods of processing MSW in today’s age, please see the narratives below.
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
The following are background information for various types of systems presently in use, to process MSW (Municipal Solid Waste), a carbon based waste. These systems are already proven and in use in a number of countries, with the latest being the ATS System described the very last.
 
Existing operating plants and methods and technology to deal with
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
From the worst method (at the top) to the best and most efficient method (at the bottom)
 
1. Worst
 
Land fill: – largest and most common method for dealing with MSW, resulting in problems with odor emissions, rodents, emission of noxious gases, etc. No usable by-products except the emission of Methane gas. This method removes large segments of land from more productive uses (average landfill occupies 48 hectares) and requires expensive maintenance operations. It is becoming much more difficult to find sites suitable for a landfill. 
 
2. Second Worst
 
Incineration: - one of the most common methods of waste treatments – it involves the combustion of MSW in the presence of oxygen and converts organic wastes into ash, flue, gas, water vapor and carbon dioxide. This method incurs very expensive capital outlay and produces only low value products (usually gas for electricity). Eliminating toxic emissions and greenhouse gases are major problems. Subject to many protests by the neighborhood. This method is regarded as a COST centre, as its costly to operate and any revenue generated, is not enough to offset the costs of operating the system.
 
3. Third Worst (only a small number of such plants are in operation, operating with temperatures of between 3-10,000 C )
 
Plasma: Large Capital Outlay and expensive to operate, requiring large amounts of power just to process MSW. Only by product produced is syngas (low value) and large amounts of ash, which have to be dealt with expensively (organics are melted and include glass ceramics and metals). This method again is regarded as a COST centre. Possibly only advantage of this system is that plasma destroys both medical and hazardous wastes leaving only ash to be dealt with and prevents hazardous waste from reaching landfills.
 
4. Fourth Worst (many such plants are still in operation. They are a form of pyrolysis but different from Pyrolysis as only a limited amount of air is permitted during processing.
 
Gasification (common type): converts organic components of MSW into CO ,H and CO2 (Syngas), by reacting the MSW with high temperatures (>700C). Large capital outlay is involved and generally only produces one merchantable by-product (syngas) which currently is of low value. As well, problems in dealing with emissions occur because of the partial burning of the MSW.
This method again is regarded as a COST centre.
 
5. Fifth Worst (several such plants are in operation, processing biomass materials – this is a proven technology for many years)
 
Pyrolysis – the current plants are the best of the above, in that the issues dealing with emissions and char were largely solved excepting that these conventional pyrolysis plants of today, have problems producing high quality biochar and bio and/or fuel oil and cannot produce activated carbon, from processing MSW, besides being expensive; as a consequence of this inability, these plants have difficulty operating profitably, and the return on investment are well over 8 years. Furthermore, the issue of tar build-up is a recurring problem with this method.
 
6. Best Proven Alternative to Deal with MSW (superheated steam thermolysis - proven technology.)
 
ATS Thermolysis System – this is a one of a kind Thermolysis system incorporating superheated steam instead, in the absence of oxygen, to process pre-sorted, pre-dried and pre-cut MSW. On account of the superheated steam and the patent pending process method of condensing the fuel gas, the system produces a high quality by products, such as biochar and/or activated carbon, bio oil or fuel oil, together with a clean syngas, and at the same time, eliminating noxious emissions and toxic wastes (no measurable pollution). As well, the system operates on a continuous non stop basis (operates 24 hrs a day, 330 days a year). This is the ATS Technology.
 
Whereas Method 5 (Pyrolysis) processes carbon based waste like MSW, so does the ATS Thermolysis System. The major differences are that the superheated steam produced by the ATS Technology, penetrates the organic wastes (MSW) completely and much more efficiently, thereby producing high quality by-products that fetch high prices in the marketplace.
 
To date, the ATS Thermolysis System is the most energy efficient design of any pyrolysis system, incorporating the process of generating its own clean fuel (syngas) for operations. The system even has the endorsement of ABB Inc., a large consulting engineering firm based in New York.
 
As you can see, the above pyrolysis systems in use today have been well proven and documented, and all of them are able to process carbon based organic matters. Therefore, it is not a matter of whether the ATS system will work or not. It all boils down as to why the ATS system is superior to the other two types of pyrolysis systems being used. All the above five systems in use, are very expensive in capital outlay and expensive to operate.
 
An example of how expensive an incineration system costs is the one installed for a municipality in British Columbia, Canada, with a population of less than a million people. The complete system costs in excess of $500,000,000, and it is being operated as a COST centre, in that the City has to subsidize the costs of operating the system every day.
 
The ATS system can process all carbon based organic waste, but instead of using incineration or gasification, the ATS system uses super heated steam instead, in a Thermolysis reactor,operating with great efficiency, high value by-products are produced. Because of this, an ATS system will achieve a Return On Investment (ROI) of less than 2 years. This is the value of the ATS System.
 
We already have an ATS system in commercial operation in British Columbia, Canada, whereby carbon based wood biomass is processed to produce high quality biochar, a product in excellent demand in Canada and the USA. MSW when pre-sorted, pre-dried and pre-cut down to less than 10mm before entering the ATS system, is easily processed like any carbon based waste, like wood waste.
 
MSW wastes consists mostly of food waste, paper and plastics, after the pre -sorting, pre-drying and pre-cutting processes are completed. These carbon based waste are easily processed by the ATS system.

Question 4

4. Are the ATS systems patented?

Accepted Answer

Effective February 24, 2023, the old existing patents were not amended and improved upon. Instead, new major improvements were incorporated in the present Patent filed in Canada ( Cert. date : Feb. 24, 2023; Application No. 3,188,638;  Reference No. Magnum.Cap.; Filing date : Feb. 24, 2023). 
In February 6, 2024, the Patent Co-operation Treaty was subsequently filed, to allow the Canadian patent to be applied to all the countries in the world, for up to 1 ½ years, after which the coverage lapses, and a new patent has to be applied for each country outside Canada.
On February 6, 2024, a patent was filed in the USA. Application # 18/433,559                  
Receipt Date : February 6, 2024. Attorney Docket # Magnum-USP

Question 5

5. Is the ATS Technology secured in the sense that if the inventor of the ATS system passes away, can the ATS system be manufactured and improved overtime?

Accepted Answer

This is indeed a valid question. MGI already has built and operated an ATS500 system and the ATS500 system can easily be upsized to an ATS1000 or an ATS2000 system by our original Technical Team residing in Europe, with some key members of the European Team applying for permanent residency in Canada, where the mind and management of MGI are located. As well, for the past several years, MGI has built up a highly qualified and experienced Technical Team in North America, to act as a backup and to assist and supplement the original Technical Team based in Europe.
 
The North American Technical Team, the majority being residents of British Columbia, Canada, consists of 12 professional engineers and environmental specialists and growing, have already developed several vital amendments to the new ATS system, that will be incorporated in the latest 5th generation of the ATS systems.

Question 6

6. What is the largest ATS system that is on the market now?

Accepted Answer

It is the ATS1000 system. All ATS systems are modular and are designed to be installed side by side for bigger jobs.

Question 7

7. Will your company manufacture much larger ATS systems in the future?

Accepted Answer

Once the need arises and this will be coming from our valued customers, we can size up the ATS1000 to an ATS2000 system and then to an ATS4000 system that can process up to 6,000kg/hr, 24 hours a day and 350 days per year. Such a system is already in the planning and designing stage.

Question 8

8. Will each ATS system, be it the ATS1000, 2000 or 4000, be custom built?

Accepted Answer

Yes, each will be custom built specifically for the client to maximize the throughput of the by-products, depending upon the primary feedstock the customer desires, even though each system can process varies types of feedstock.

Question 9

9. How long is it from the time of ordering to the time of delivery for each ATS system?

Accepted Answer

From start of production to the time of shipment, it will be about 9 months for the time being.

Question 10

10. What is the warranty period of the ATS system?

Accepted Answer

Normally, the warranty for parts and labour will be for one year after commissioning of the system. That being said, we can provide a maintenance contract with the customer for much longer periods of time. But normally, after the local technical staff is properly trained by us, maintenance should not be an issue at all.

Question 11

11. What will be the cost of a maintenance contract for the ATS system?

Accepted Answer

This will vary with the size of the ATS system and as well, as how long such a contract will be, but mostly it will consist of the estimated time to be spent by our engineer/s and travelling and accommodation costs for them. Under normal circumstances, the local engineers and technicians after the initial training, should be capable to trouble shoot and maintain the smooth running of the ATS system/s. If our company is a minor joint venture partner of the client, special consideration will be given to the client.

Question 12

12. Under normal circumstances, what is the life span of an ATS system?

Accepted Answer

Under normal circumstances, if proper maintenance is adhered to, the ATS system can last easily more than 35 years, and can be upgraded to incorporate new technology.

Question 13

13. If subsequent new technology is introduced to the ATS system, how will the existing customers benefit from that?

Accepted Answer

All new technologies being introduced to existing systems will also be offered to existing customers to upgrade their systems, at cost, if our company participate with the client on a JV basis.

Question 14

14. Normally, for any manufacturing concern, some spare parts are required to be stored. How much or how many spare parts are required to be stored for emergency purposes for an ATS system?

Accepted Answer

Under normal circumstances, from experience, the amount of miscellaneous spare parts to be stored, should be in the vicinity of between US$50,000 to 100,000 for an ATS1000 system and between $100,000 to US$200,000, for an ATS2000 system.

Question 15

15. What is the cost of an ATS system?

Accepted Answer

We try not to sell an ATS system outright, but rather, enter into a joint venture with interested and qualified parties to ensure that the ATS system operates smoothly for a long time. 
Each ATS system is joint venture priced in such a way to maximize the return on investment (ROI) for the customer, and in most cases, the ROI is estimated to be about 3 years. For details of joint venture business opportunity of the ATS systems, and the pro-forma financials for processing various feedstock, our company representatives will be glad to assist you.

Question 16

16. Why is the present ATS system being made in Europe?

Accepted Answer

This is because our company had a contractual arrangement with an existing large factory in Europe to have the ATS systems manufactured and fabricated there; but in the very near future, the manufacturing and fabricating processes will be replicated elsewhere.

Question 17

17. For wood waste being processed by the ATS system, what are the anticipated percentages of by-products being produced?

Accepted Answer

If biochar is desired as the final by-product, the following are the expected percentages :
 
Biochar 30%, Bio Oil 40%, Syngas 30%
 
If further processing is done to produce activated carbon (high value), the following are the expected percentages :
 
Activated Carbon 25%, Bio Oil 40%, Syngas 35%.
 
The above percentages would be similar for MSW after it has been pre-sorted, pre-dried and pre-cut to certain size.

Question 18

18. For crumb rubber being processed by the ATS system, what are the anticipated percentages of by-products being produced?

Accepted Answer

Carbon Black 38-40%, Fuel Oil 40-44%, Syngas 20%.
 
If further processing of Carbon Black to Activated Carbon (higher value) is desired, the following are the expected percentages produced:
 
Activated Carbon 33-35%, Syngas 25%.

Question 19

19. For plastics being processed by the ATS system, what are the anticipated percentages of by-products being produced?

Accepted Answer

The percentages will depend on the different types of plastics present in the feedstock. The PVC and PET must be sorted out prior to processing as they will contaminate the fuel oil produced. Assuming that the PVC and PET are taken out, fuel oil 65-85%, but in our proforma financial, we use only 70% for fuel oil, carbon black 3-5%, Syngas 20%.
 
Below is a general composition of waste plastics that can be processed by our ATS system:
 
PE HYPE and LDPE 60% of all used plastics.
PP 15-30%
PVC 10%.
PET 10-20%.
PU 5%.

Question 20

20. How much electrical requirements are required to run the ATS systems?

Accepted Answer

The ATS systems are designed so that all they need is to have electricity made available to start up the system; thereafter, the syngas generated by the system can be diverted back to the system to power it.

Question 21

21. I understand the ATS systems can process various organic feedstocks. What happens if I decide to change a particular feedstock?

Accepted Answer

If a certain feedstock, for example, wood waste, is processed initially and you decide to change the feedstock to say, crumb rubber, just have the intake hopper cleaned out of wood waste by using an air blower or jet of water, plus some other minor changes. This change in operation would probably take about a few days. That is why the ATS system is a multi purpose system, and not a fixed single purpose like other systems.

Question 22

22. Can the ATS systems be mass produced?

Accepted Answer

Definitely Yes. We have entered into agreements with 2 manufacturing and fabrication factories that can manufacture and fabricate the ATS systems, if and when required. Therefore, mass producing the ATS systems will not be a problem, provided the funding is there.

Question 23

23. Is there a presentation that I can access to have a glimpse of the overall ATS Technology?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is on our website under "Resources" - "Corporate PowerPoint Presentation". (javascript:void(0))

Question 24

24. Besides the ATS system being installed in a factory to process organic wastes, what other equipment will be required for say, MSW?

Accepted Answer

For processing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), the MSW needs 
(a) to be pre-sorted so that all the non organic wastes, example, glass, metals are removed. This can be done manually, if the client desires to provide employment to the local population, or automatically by sorting machines available in the marketplace. 
(b) to be dried to be 10-15 % moisture content through a dryer, available commercially. This will be best for producing bio-char, a condition for producing activated carbon. 
(c) to be cut to a size less than 10mm by a hammermill, available commercially 
Then the pre-sorted, pre-dried and pre-cut MSW can then be processed through the ATS system to achieve the maximum result.

Question 25

25. If other equipment are used to supplement the ATS system to process crumb rubber, how much will they cost?

Accepted Answer

Simpler homogenous feedstock like crumb rubber will have less requirement for supplement equipment, and their costs will probably be less than US$500,000. That being said, the ancillary equipment for processing used tires will be more expensive as the steel has to be extracted.

Question 26

26. What is the processing volume for an ATS2000 system?

Accepted Answer

As stated earlier, an ATS2000 system can process up to 3,000kg/hr of organic biomass, depending upon the final by-products being desired. For example, if wood biomass is used as feedstock, which has to be pre-dried, pre-cut, and palletized, and only biochar is desired as the final product, then the ATS2000 system can be turned on to have the maximum processing speed, but if the final desired product is activated carbon (a much higher value product), the biochar has to undergo another activation reactor in the ATS2000 system, thereby, slowing down the speed of the process.

Question 27

27. Your earlier patents expired. Did they infringe on other patents?

Accepted Answer

The earlier patent applications were initiated just for protection status of the ATS Technology while it was being developed to its ultimate. The patent pending processes were purposely left to expire, as enhancements were being developed. The present patent pending process incorporates all the enhancements of the previous innovations, and much more.

Our inventors and technical team had identified several improvements from the experience they had when dealing with the first operational prototype and these were not dealt with the first patent and a new patent needed to be filed to deal with this approach. Since we could not incorporate these new innovations into the prior filed patent – our Patent Attorneys suggest that it would be better to file a new patent that would incorporate ALL the material improvements that deal with the operation of the system as a whole instead of a simple machine. To do otherwise would have involved needless expenditures for the prior patents as we would need to file a new patent that dealt with the whole operating system in the future anyway.

According to our two Patent Attorneys, one of which is the co-inventor and as well, a Managing Director of Magnum Group International, and the other, a seasoned Canadian Patent Attorney, the ATS Technology was and is protected all the time, and does not infringement on any other patents in the world.

Also, they advised that the old patent did not infringe on any other patents as it incorporated, designed, tested and built several new innovations, using super heated steam as the catalyst, such as avoiding clogging of prior pyrolysis piping systems and eliminating the creation of furans and dioxins and creating a high quality(grade) of biochar, carbon black, and fuel oil, together with producing an extremely cleaner syngas.

According to the two Patent Attorneys, to the best of their knowledge, the ATS Technology, utilizing super heated steam as a catalyst, is the only one of its kind in the world.

Question 28

28. Your ATS500 system initially installed in Alberta, and now relocated to Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada, tested wood waste and crumb rubber. What about tests for MSW? As well, what is the B.E.T. rating for Biochar produced by your existing ATS500 system?

Accepted Answer

The present ATS500 system was approved by Alberta Environment Protection Agency with flying colors, as it easily passed the Alberta Govt. requirement of “no measurable emission of pollutants” in order for the ATS500 system to be operated commercially.

The products being tested and processed by the ATS500 system were: 
- Crumb rubber. The main by-product being produced was carbon black and this was tested by an independent laboratory, and the results showed a high quality(grade) of carbon black.

- Wood waste. The main by-product being produced was biochar and it was independently tested, and the results showed a very high quality(grade) of biochar. On account of the burgeoning market for high quality biochar to be used for soil remediation, crop fertilizer, etc. the company focused on producing very high quality biochar from the present ATS500 system.

No tests were made for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), as all people who know anything about pyrolysis systems (established and proven over 40 years ago), know that by processing MSW, the main by-products are biochar and bonechar, as MSW primarily consist of food waste and bones, etc. , after all the inorganic wastes have been sorted out (eg. metals, glass). 
The present ATS500 system owned by the Company that is stationed in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada, is used for research & development and for processing organic wastes for clients.

For other pyrolysis systems in use today, the biochar/bonechar being produced is of very low quality (grade), and cannot be used successfully for ALL soil remediation and soil fertilizer. 
On account of the ATS Technology of utilizing super heated steam and the patent pending process of employing 3 reactors, the MSW’s molecular structure is changed, and subsequently converted into a very high quality(grade) biochar or activated carbon and/or bonechar, that is in great demand in soil remediation and as a growth fertilizer. This is the virtue of the ATS Technology – converting ALL organic carbon based wastes (MSW being one of them) to high value by-products that is easily marketed at high prices, thereby creating an extremely profitable business just by processing organic wastes.

The measurement of the quality of biochar or bonechar are in B.E.T terms. B.E.T stand for Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and these are the 3 gentlemen that invented the measurement of the porosity of the biochar or bonechar. The higher the B.E.T. rating, the more porous the product is and the more superior the product in its absorption capability, etc.

For the European Union, a B.E.T. rating of 150 grams per sq. metre is the standard used, and for most pyrolysis systems used in today’s market, for biochar and bonechar being produced, the B.E.T. rating is below the standard of 150. The biochar being produced by our ATS500 system was tested in accordance with EU measurement of B.E.T. and it came to an astounding 413.

For North America standards, a B.E.T. rating of less than 25 is the industry standard for biochar and bonechar, but most commonly the B.E.T rating achieved by pyrolysis systems in use, is between 12-15. We tested the biochar being produced from our ATS500 system, and it came to 88.65 (measured by Dr. Amir, scientist at the University of British Columbia).

Therefore, using both standards, one adopted by the EU and the other in North America, the ATS Technology beats them all.

Question 29

29. Can the ATS500 system be successfully sized up to 1000 or 2000 systems?

Accepted Answer

The blue prints of the 5th generation ATS1000 is already completed and production of the 5th generation ATS1000 is ready and available.
 
The ATS Technology has already been well proven, as the ATS500 system is already in use for several years. The ATS1000 is more than twice the processing volume of the ATS500 system, and it’s a no brainer for the inventor and his technical team to upsize the ATS500 system to an ATS1000 system.
 
If an ATS2000 systems is required, it makes only logical sense to install two ATS1000 systems and place them side by side, for operational purposes. The dual usage of an ATS1000 is excellent in that in the event one is broken down, the other one will still be in production.

Question 30

30. What makes the ATS Technology and Systems so far apart from other pyrolysis systems?

Accepted Answer

It is the most advanced physical activation system in the world because it
 
• Eliminates incomplete feedstock penetration
• Eliminates tar build-up in the system
• Employs a triple reactor system, each with its own motor
• Allows heat to be independently controlled in each reactor
 
It is the only system in the world that Incorporates super-heated steam, thereby allowing
 
• Penetration of feedstock for superior breakdown
• Removal of volatiles from the reactors to prevent recontamination
• Elimination of the problem of organic soot and tar building up in the circulatory systems
• Creation of a much purer carbon that more easily transitions to activated carbon
• Re-usage of waste heat from the reactors for greater system efficiency
 
Our state of the art Venturi Condenser
 
• Increases flash point temperature of the fuel oil from 40o to ~75o
• Separates steam from fuel oil and synthesized gas
• Keeps the base elements from cross-contaminating
• Maintains a high temperature to prevent the chemical reaction that creates dioxins and furans during the condensing process in other systems
 
Additional Points of Superiority of the ATS Systems
 
• Does not use a vacuum pump to create the oxygen-free environment
• Utilizes an auger to move feedstock in the reactors, thereby mixing the feedstock as it moves through the system and allowing much greater uniform penetration
• Employs a method of dispersing explosive synthesized gas in the event of a shutdown due to power failure
• A nitrogen fire suppression system is connected to the reactors in order to extinguish potential fires occurring in the reactors or thermal chamber
• The BTU value of the synthesized gas is greatly increased with a vortex pre-mixing chamber
• The system design allows access to the piping system for ease of cleaning and maintenance
• Dual flap air lock gates are used instead of dual blade gates, thereby eliminating a problem that all competing systems have with particulate build-up on the sliding blades, which may eventually allow the not wanted ambient air to enter the reactors
• Energy efficiency is much superior as the methodologies employed to capture, purify, enhance and ignite the synthesized gas, allow the ATS system to operate efficiently, using virtually all of its own created fuel.

Question 31

31. Will the ATS System be able to eradicate toxic pollution and if so, how does the system do that?

Accepted Answer

Dioxins are produced as a by-product from incomplete combustion of organic material in the presence of chlorine to form having a highly toxic nature when they absorbed the human body. They belong to a group of dangerous chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POP) which affect several human organs and systems and remain in the body for 7 to 10 years. Unlike PCB’s (Polychlorinated biphenyls, with only one oxygen coupling between both benzene rings), which were used in several industrial applications, dioxins have no uses.  They are formed unintentionally and are predominantly released as by-products of human activities, such as incineration and fuel combustion. They are also generated by natural processes, such as forest fires and volcanoes.  Their formation and their formation “de novo” are mainly due to incomplete combustion in:                 
 • incinerators                
 • open fires               
 • high furnaces               
 • cement kilns                 
 • thermal engines (motorcars, busses, trains, airplanes, ships etc.)                 
 • cigarettes (combined with chlorine bleached paper) 
Another major current concern to human health is the processing of Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) -which are Synthetic Organic compounds (SOC) which can be found in numerous consumer waste products. PFAS compounds impact human health through altered kidney and thyroid function resulting in testicular cancers, ulcerative and high colitis amongst other diverse health effects in mammals. The ATS Technology eliminates PFAS substances that could be present in the organic feedstock, as well. 
The propriety ATS Systems are engineered to eradicate toxic and contaminated organic feedstock as follows:
1. The ATS System incorporates an auger system in the thermal heating chamber, ensuring that the feedstock material is mixed well to ensure all the feedstock is evenly heated.
2. The ATS System incorporates a unique drying and shredding system for the feedstock to create a consistent particle size and moisture content in the feedstock ensuring a consistent heating throughout the feedstock.
3. The ATS System incorporates a state of the art activated carbon chamber capable of achieving temperatures up to 1000C, if and when necessary, by using the heat of the thermolysis chamber furnace. 
4. Another catalytic system incorporated in the ATS System to break down the dioxins and furans can also be activated, if further action is required for additional protection.
5. The ATS proprietary technology with its state of the art venturi condenser, as well, separates the gas from the liquids during the processing stage, thereby preventing the formation of dioxins and furons.

Question 32

32. You indicated that the ROI for the ATS systems will be about 3 years, and yet the proforma financials show a much better picture. Why is that?

Accepted Answer

There are several reasons for the estimation that the ROI will be about 3 years, and they are as follows : 
- the pro-forma financials are predicated on optimum commercial production from day 1, when the factory is operating at full capacity (3 shifts - 24 hours a day). 
- as indicated earlier, presently, the ATS systems are custom tailored to accommodate the primary feedstock to be processed, and the manufacturing process of the ATS system will take about 8-9 months, plus another month or so for shipping, and after that, allow another 1-2 months for commissioning of the ATS system before production commences. 
- training of the local engineers and factory staff will take the better part of 1-2 months. 
- to ramp the new ATS system to full commercial production capacity (from day 1 to 1 shift, to 3 shifts), allow another 3-4 months for the process. 
- therefore, our estimation of the 3 year payback period is reasonable.

On a brighter note, given the above delays, the return on investment may be earlier, on account of the fact that the by-products of the ATS systems will qualify for carbon credits, and the income from this source is not included in the pro-financials.

Question 33

33. What is the feedstock specifications for the reactor?

Accepted Answer

The moisture content should range from 10% to 15% and the particles should be no more than 1” in length and ¼” in thickness.

Question 34

34. Does the biochar produced by the ATS system be served as a landfill filter for leachates?

Accepted Answer

It absolutely can. However, the economics are not good with this application. Buyers for this purpose expect to buy for less our cost to produce.

Question 35

35. Can the biochar produced be used for soil enhancement in any agricultural field, or does it depend on the region's conditions? Please share the characterization of the biochar produced.

Accepted Answer

Any soil type and any conditions will benefit from biochar. In clay soil, it allows the soil to breath and for water to move. In sandy soil, it retains moisture and nutrients that would otherwise wash down past root systems. Having said that, it is important to know how to charge the biochar before application depending on the profile of the soil.

Question 36

36. On average, how many years is the CO2 captured in the biochar being produced?

Accepted Answer

Experts give a wide range: 1,000 to 2,000 years.