OREANDA-NEWS. Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC; TSX: ECP) informs that the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce of Colombia granted an invention patent to Ecocarbovin, a soil conditioner that allows a better use of vinasses, a byproduct resulting from the production of ethanol.

Ecocarbovin is a technological product developed by the Colombian Petroleum Institute, the research center of Ecopetrol.

Between 1,000 and 1,200 liters of vinasse are generated by each 100 liters of ethanol derived from sugar cane. Through a process using high temperatures, denominated pyrolysis, these convert into an organic matter that improves the productivity of poor soils, facilitates water accumulation and promotes the growth of native microbiota.

This initiative is part of a series of activities with the purpose of taking advantage of vinasse derived from the production of ethanol in the Eastern Plains.

The patent is valid for twenty (20) years, as of December 7, 2011, and is the fifth patent received by the company during this year.