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SulphCo(R), Announces Positive Independent Test Results on Heavy Crude Oil from the Americas  SPARKS, Nev., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SulphCo(R), Inc. SUF today announced the results of independent testing on the Sonocracking of a heavy crude oil from a large producer in the Americas. The degree gravity API of the untreated crude oil was in the low 20's. The product testing, undertaken by an internationally recognized test laboratory located near Houston, Texas during August, was run using standard ASTM approved test methods. The product crude oil, after being subjected to Sonocracking technology, showed a 40% volume increase in the high value middle distillate boiling range from 300 - 500 degrees Fahrenheit over the untreated feed oil. Products derived from this range include kerosene, diesel and jet fuel. These values were derived from ASTM D2892/5236 distillation tests. The product oil showed a corresponding decrease in the volume percentage of the lower value residual oil in boiling ranges above 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The increase in the middle distillate boiling range was consistent with a recorded increase in the degree gravity API of the product oil after Sonocracking. The product oil after Sonocracking also showed roughly a 50% decrease in viscosity over the untreated oil and a 10% decrease in sulfur. These values were derived from ASTM D445 and D4294,2622 tests respectively. Microcarbon residue, asphaltenes and vanadium content were also decreased according to the ASTM D4530, IP143 and D5863 tests respectively. "These results are extremely positive and certainly in line with the majority of our test results," commented Peter Gunnerman, SulphCo's(R) President. "The significant increase in kerosene and diesel yield will be extremely valuable to refiners globally, especially those in geographic areas such as Europe, Asia and some markets in the Americas where there is a high demand for these products." Twelve consecutive tests on the same oil were run to demonstrate repeatability of the process and results. Representative samples from this testing were shipped to and analyzed by the independent laboratory. SulphCo's(R) Sonocracking technology has an operating cost of between $0.18 to $0.20 per 42 gallon barrel of crude oil. The majority of this cost is for electricity used by the ultrasonic probes and by various motors on the fully automated Sonocracking processing units. The electrical cost is calculated at $0.10 per kWh. SulphCo(R) has further commissioned an independent economic analysis to be undertaken which will model the value of the independent test results to today's market conditions and specific refining applications.