A technology that dates back two millennia is behind
OurPet’s Company’s (OTCQX: OPCO) new Switchgrass Biochar Litter. As Emily Wayne
of Oxford University explains in Conquistadors, cannibals and climate change: A
brief history of biochar (http://dtn.fm/A4Czi), “In 1870, James Orton, a
little-known American geologist and explorer, noticed that alongside the
typically grey, acidic soils of the (Amazon) basin there existed large patches
of ‘black and very fertile’ soil… Researchers flocked to investigate the
mysterious dark earth, or ‘terra preta’ as it is known locally.” On closer
examination, the soil appeared to have been modified by early human settlers.
It seems the early Amazonians had originated an organic method of fertilizing
the soil. These terra preta plots date back to antiquity, the oldest site at
8,000 BCE. It all appeared to have started when these ancient peoples
discovered that, by charring organic waste in ovens with a low-oxygen supply, a
process known as pyrolysis, charcoal for use as a fuel could be produced.
Somehow this carbon found its way into the soil, giving it a characteristically
black color due to the high concentration of carbon. Terra preta contains up to
9 percent carbon, compared with 0.5 percent in surrounding soils.
At some point it was realized that such soil yielded more
abundant crops for longer periods. Even with the use of chemical fertilizers,
crop yields will fall off rapidly after a third consecutive growing season, yet
the terra preta soil has retained its fertility for centuries. So, naturally,
efforts were made to reproduce the ancient techniques of terra preta
production. This has given birth to biological charcoal (biochar), which can be
defined simply as charcoal used for agricultural purposes.
Charcoal is able to remove odors very effectively because a
quantity of charcoal absorbs many times its volume of noxious gases. Charcoal
is a porous form of carbon and so has a very large ‘surface area’ which
enhances its powers of absorption. It does a great job of absorbing the ‘rotten
egg’ odor that cat waste gives off. This rotten egg gas is actually hydrogen
sulfide (H2S), a poisonous, highly flammable, colorless gas that, in high enough
concentrations, can cause loss of consciousness. An old story
(http://dtn.fm/94Bsh) in Sky News told how a vet in Sweden was hospitalized for
three days after being exposed to 20 flatulent cats.
OurPet’s Company continues to demonstrate its technological
prowess with Switchgrass Biochar Litter. The company’s CEO, Dr. Steven Tsengas,
is an engineer and inventor who has been elected to the National Inventors Hall
of Fame. OurPet’s Company’s engineering expertise and open approach to new
ideas has been employed, over the years, to develop the company’s portfolio of
over 1,000 products. The company also has another 30 or so products in the
pipeline and an intellectual property stockpile of over 160 patents. Recently,
OurPet’s Company announced a new strategic partnership with the Japanese
software developer, Aplix IP Holdings Corporation, a company known for its
WirelessIDEA software-based technology for machine to machine (M2M)
applications and its JBlend, a Java Micro Edition (Java ME) platform for embedded
software, which has been installed in close to three-quarters of a billion
devices worldwide.
In a recent earnings release, Dr. Tsengas said, “We remain
focused on growth initiatives in all three of our key product categories;
feeding and storage, toys and accessories, and waste management and odor
control.’. Those of us with hyperosmia are happy to hear that.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ourpets.com
About MissionIR
MissionIR is committed to connecting the investment community with companies that have great potential and a strong dedication to building shareholder value. We know our reputation is based on the integrity of our clients and go to great lengths to ensure the companies represented adhere to sound business practices.
Sign up for “The Mission Report” at www.MissionIR.com
Please see disclaimer on the MissionIR website http://www.missionir.com/disclaimer.html
MissionIR is committed to connecting the investment community with companies that have great potential and a strong dedication to building shareholder value. We know our reputation is based on the integrity of our clients and go to great lengths to ensure the companies represented adhere to sound business practices.
Sign up for “The Mission Report” at www.MissionIR.com
Please see disclaimer on the MissionIR website http://www.missionir.com/disclaimer.html
