Bion's Ammonia Recovery Technology’s Initial Startup Successful - Maintains Controlled Steady-State


Fair Oaks, Indiana, Sept. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc. (OTC QB: BNET), a leader in advanced livestock waste treatment technology and premium sustainable beef, announced the Ammonia Recovery System at its Fair Oaks commercial scale demonstration facility has achieved and maintained controlled steady-state operations under a variety of conditions. When at steady state, the system produces an ammonium distillate (solution), the base of Bion’s nitrogen fertilizer products.

Bion has begun optimizing the system’s operating parameters so that it will meet or exceed Bion’s economic models for large-scale commercial projects. The Company expects the optimization to take at least four to eight weeks, at which point final design for commercial projects can begin.

The patented Ammonia Recovery System (ARS) is the core of Bion’s Gen3Tech platform. The ARS recovers and upcycles problem ammonia contained in the effluent from anaerobic digestion, where methane is captured (and more ammonia is released) from the manure stream. The ARS captures the ammonia, minimizing its environmental impacts and creating low-carbon and organic nitrogen fertilizer products with it. In the next few weeks, the company intends to produce ammonium distillate at Fair Oaks in several concentrations and apply for organic certification for each.

Bion will also produce a solid/granular nitrogen fertilizer product that is both Climate-Smart and Water-Smart – a pure nitrogen fertilizer with a low carbon footprint, that is water soluble and readily available to plants. The granular product can be easily and cheaply shipped from locations where it is not wanted, to regions or locations where it is needed. Bion has applied to several state agencies to certify the granular product for use in organic production.

Bill O’Neill, Bion’s CEO, said, “We are very pleased with system performance at Fair Oaks, and to be back in control of our timelines. Over the next few weeks, we will conduct demonstration tours with key stakeholders in the beef industry, potential partners in distribution, banking, and project finance, and others as we establish the strategic relationships needed to develop commercial projects.

While many today are focused on climate impacts, we believe the larger issue with livestock is ammonia and nitrates, which are of increasing concern in the U.S., especially in California and Washington. In the EU, a nitrogen cap has already led to social and political unrest in Ireland and the Netherlands – a cautionary tale for us. We think the value of Bion’s ability to upcycle and redirect that ammonia to where and when it is needed, cannot be overemphasized.”

About Bion
Bion’s patented 3rd generation technology (Gen3Tech) platform minimizes environmental impacts from large-scale livestock production, increases resource efficiencies by upcycling byproducts and renewable energy, and delivers a verified sustainable protein product. Bion is focused on developing state-of-the-art sustainable cattle feeding operations that will produce premium sustainable beef, with a USDA-certified brand. The platform produces low-carbon and organic nitrogen fertilizer products from the ammonia nitrogen it captures, that otherwise would escape to fuel harmful algae blooms, groundwater contamination, and PM2.5 air pollution. Learn more at https://bionenviro.com.   

Forward Looking Statements

This material includes forward-looking statements based on management's current reasonable business expectations. In this document, the words ‘will’, ‘anticipate(s)’, ‘intend(s)’, and similar expressions identify certain forward-looking statements. It should be noted it is difficult to accurately predict the startup and optimization of a first-of-its-kind advanced waste treatment technology platform. The timelines discussed are estimates only.  These statements are made in reliance on the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, Section 27A of the Securities act of 1933, as amended. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could result in actual results differing materially from expected outcomes.

Contact Information:

Craig Scott         
SVP, Director of Communications
(406) 281-8178 direct