weapon of mass restruction!, page-2

VTI - ASX Company Announcement
THIS IS A PRIORITY ITEM
26 November 2002
Part 1/1
--------
VIROTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
-----------------------------
HOMEX - Brisbane
-------------------------
Develops new Phosphate Fertiliser
Virotec International Ltd (ASX/AIM: VTI) is pleased to announce that
scientists from the Company's ViroSoils Division, have developed and
lodged a patent application for a new process that has the potential
to add substantial value to the worldwide phosphate fertiliser
industry.
Virotec's proprietary process produces a highly efficient phosphate
fertiliser ViroPhosphate (TM). Whilst ViroPhosphate (TM)
facilitates the transfer of phosphorous to plants, it virtually
eliminates phosphorous leachate production thereby minimising adverse
environmental impacts of fertiliser usage.
Executive Chairman Brian Sheeran expands, "From today, Virotec will
be talking to fertiliser companies throughout the world. We believe
our product is superior to all current phosphate fertilisers and we
will be actively seeking established local and global partners for
the commercialisation of ViroPhosphate (TM)."
Current world demand for phosphate fertiliser exceeds 50 million
tonnes per annum and this can only increase as the need to feed a
growing world population further depletes nutrients in agricultural
soils. However, phosphate leached from fertilised land is a major
contributor to the environmental problem of eutrophication that often
causes excessive weed growth and hazardous blue/green algal blooms in
rivers and lakes.
Scientific Director Professor McConchie explains, "Many research
studies in Australia and elsewhere have shown that as much as 40% to
60% of all the phosphate fertiliser applied to farm land can be
washed into nearby rivers. The amount of phosphorous washed from farm
land into rivers and lakes will depend on many factors, however,
laboratory tests on sandy soils show that superphosphate loss can be
over 90% for a mere 500 mm of rainfall, whereas the loss of
phosphorous from the same amount of ViroPhosphate (TM) is much less
than 1% for the same rainfall. Furthermore, ViroPhosphate (TM)
reduces soil acidity and it can greatly reduce, and sometimes almost
prevent, the transfer of many potentially hazardous elements,
including cadmium and uranium that are present in many conventional
phosphate fertilisers, to plants and animals. Essentially,
ViroPhosphate (TM) is good news for farmers and good news for the
environment."
ViroPhosphate (TM) is the second major product developed by Virotec's
ViroSoils Division. The first product, ViroBind, is an
environmentally safe, water insoluble additive used to treat acidic
soils and to immobilise trace metals in contaminated soils so that
they can't be easily leached out or taken up by plants. It also
improves the geotechnical properties of the soil (particularly the
rate of consolidation and the shear strength of the compacted
material) and it ensures that the foundations of any structures built
on the reclaimed land are protected from possible acid corrosion.
For further information please contact Virotec on +617 5530 8014 or
refer to www.virotec.com.
ends - AAP