breakthrough waste recovery process.

The patent, if granted as expected, will provide Kemgas with world-wide protection.

The company has sunk several million dollars into the development of a process from reclaiming carbide lime -- a "nasty by-product'' of producing acetylene gas, which is used for cutting and welding metal.

"Kemgas has been working for a long time to achieve this important milestone in the company's business plan,'' said chief executive officer Otavio Sinto.

"The patent is the validation of the total research and development effort that has taken place during the last two years.'' And Chief Financial Officer Ian McNeil said they were "very excited'' about the breakthrough, and saw the development as being helpful from an environmental perspective.

He said vast ponds of carbide lime had been produced worldwide as a result of the earlier methods of obtaining acetylene.

In Germany alone, more than 40 million tons had accumulated with a surface area of 550 hectares -- covering the size of approximately ten golf courses.

But Kemgas has developed a process through which this environmentally hazardous by-product is converted into precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) for which the global market exceeds $1 billion per year.

"PCC, which is pure lime in crystal form, has become of great use. In 1980 they decided wood pulp was becoming too expensive in the paper making industry...it was discovered that by using PCC you could produce a better quality paper,'' he said.

"All PCC up until now was made from limestone, but the Kemgas process takes an environmental hazard, removes the carbide lime so the land can be reused, and produces a high-quality PCC,'' he added.

In addition to paper, PCC is also used in plastics, paint, window frames and certain types of rubber.