A Sustainable Biosolids Process & Fertilizer Product

A Sustainable Biosolids Process & Fertilizer Product Dana G Taylor and Jeffrey C Burnham, Ph.D. • Long-term effective biosolids solution • High-value slow-release fertilizer • Green sustainable business

The Biosolids Solution – Sustainability 61 MM ton U.S. Fertilizer Market Need 7.5 MM ton U.S. Biosolids Production AM Process Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer Growing Population Requiring Increased Crop Production Increasingly Limited Disposal Options Slow-release N Nearly odorless Crop effective Competitive Ag economics Class A+/EQ Granulation Processing

Key Approaches Key Aspects of Business Model • Do not transport biosolids cake very far • Utilize a safe Class AA biosolids treatment • Construct modular plants • Emphasize redundancy • Manufacture a valuable marketable product • Be community positive

Create Value With Biosolids • Recover value from biosolids • Nitrogen • Micronutrients • Organics • Amino acids • Manufacture saleable enhanced-efficiency fertilizer • Increased crop production value • Create GREEN value: Reduction in GHG emissions for biosolids treatment and fertilizer manufacture

Biosolids Containing Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer • HIGH‐NUTRIENT • SLOW‐RELEASE FERTILIZER • 16‐0‐2‐17‐3‐16 (N‐P‐K‐S‐Fe‐Org) • Characteristics: • Spherical granules; • 260/120/80 SGN • 6-8 # hardness • Dry - >98% solids • no biosolids odor • Application rates: • pounds per acre - not tons

The Ammonium Mix (“AM”) Technology • Conversion of biosolids to high nitrogen granular fertilizer • Reacts concentrated acid and anhydrous ammonia with biosolids for a two step heat drying process • Couples nutrients to biosolids organic molecules to create a slow-release fertilizer • Key is long reaction times under heat and pressure. • Incorporation of high plant nutrient value • Use of nutrient chemicals that positively reduce odorants

The Ammonium Mix (“AM”) Process Dewatered Biosolids Conditioning: Convert to paste-like material Fe addition Pugmill Controlled reaction time, pressure and high temperatures for dewatering, disinfection, hydrolysis of molecules. Hydrolysis Vessels Ammonia & H2SO4 Binding Agents Recycle Condensed water return to WWTP Granulator / Dryer Screens Cooling Coating Storage 7

Field Crop Trials • Tomatoes & Peppers (Univ of Florida) • Turf (Bermuda; Rye) (Mississippi State Univ) • Corn (Arise Research Station, IN) • Golf course greens (Mississippi State Univ & SEP, FL) • Watermelons (Purdue Univ) • Winter Wheat

MSU Greens Project (Creeping Bentgrass – 1/23/12) with average Digital Color Ratings Milorganite – 5.8 Urea – 7.0 Control – 4.2 VitAg – 7.2 Nature Safe – 6.2

Independent Testing Demonstrates Agronomic Benefits on Crops Commentary • High quality commercial fertilizer for a broad array of crops • Especially productive in turf • Promotes yield by reducing crop stress (i.e. heat and drought);enhances plant vigor with better root structure. • Enhanced slow-release properties Source: Arise Research Station and Discovery Tomato Yield Improvement Research at 84 Days Tomato Fruit Weight as Influenced by N Source B A B C Fruit Weight (g) Commercial 4-10-6 1000 #/a 17-0-28 1800 #/a 17-0-28 1800 #/a VitAg 50/50 KNO34-10-6 1000 #/a VitAg 1000 #/a KNO3 1000 #/a NH3NO3 235 #/a VitAg 25/75 4-10-6 1000 #/a VitAg 470 #/a KNO3 1114 #/a Control N Source Source: University of Florida

Sustainable Energy Benefits Of VitAg • Sustainable energy created through agriculture • Lower carbon process footprint (GHG emissions) Tons of CO2 per Ton of Biosolids Processes Incinerator Thermal Dryer Process Gould et al., WEF 2011

VitAg Plant -- Zellwood, FL July 2014

VitAg Zellwood, FL Project • 100% Plant Engineering (CDMSmith) • Permits for Orange Cty, FL and State of FL • EPC contract with guarantees • Fully Funded - Notice to Proceed issued (7/12/14) • Purchased 62 acres in Zellwood, FL • Signed 20 year biosolids supply contract

VitAg Zellwood/Orlando, FL Site

VitAg’s AM Plant Design For Zellwood

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A Sustainable Biosolids Process & Fertilizer Product