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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.22

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                       
     AGREEMENT entered into this 1st day of October 1997, by and between 
FiberChem, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of business 
at 1181 Grier Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 (the "Company") Geoffrey F. 
Hewitt, residing at 285 Willowgrove Circle, Henderson, Nevada 89014 (the 
"Executive").

                             W I T N E S S E T H :
                                       
     WHEREAS, the Company wishes to continue to employ the Executive in the 
principal capacity of President and Chief Executive Officer upon the terms 
and conditions contained herein;

     WHEREAS, the Executive is desirous of continuing employment with the 
Company and is willing to accept such employment for the inducements and upon 
the terms and conditions contained herein; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has bargained for a covenant by the Executive not 
to compete with the Company's business.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and agreements 
contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration by each of the 
parties, the parties hereby agree as follows:

     1.   EMPLOYMENT.  The Company hereby employs the Executive and the 
Executive hereby accepts employment upon the terms and conditions set forth 
herein.

     2.   TERM.  The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof 
and shall continue for an initial term of one (1) year; provided, however, 
that the term of this Agreement shall be automatically continued and 
extended, on the same terms and conditions as then in effect hereunder, for 
additional consecutive twelve month periods commencing upon such termination 
date, unless at least thirty (30) days before that date of termination of the 
initial term of this Agreement or of any such extended term, the Company 
shall give the Executive, or the Executive shall give the Company, notice in 
writing electing to terminate this agreement as of such termination date.

     3.   DUTIES.

          (a)  During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall serve 
the Company in an executive capacity and shall perform such duties as are 
determined from time to time by the Company's Board of Directors.  Unless 
prevented by death or disability, the Executive shall devote his full 
business time, allowing for vacations and national holidays, as set forth in 
Sections 5(a) and (e) hereof, and illnesses, exclusively to 


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the business and affairs of the Company, and shall use his best efforts, 
skill and abilities to promote its interests.  Nothing herein contained shall 
be construed as preventing the Executive from purchasing securities in any 
publicly held entity, if such purchases shall not result in his owning 
beneficially 2% or more of the equity securities of such company, provided 
such investment is not made in a company in competition with the Company.

          (b)  It is hereby acknowledged that the Board of Directors of the 
Company has elected the Executive to serve as President and Chief Executive 
Officer, and the Company hereby agrees to use its best efforts to have the 
Executive continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer during 
the term of this Agreement.  The precise services of the Executive may be 
extended or curtailed from time to time at the direction of the Company's 
Board of Directors.

     4.   COMPENSATION.  For the services rendered by the Executive 
hereunder, the Company shall pay and the Executive shall accept the following 
compensation:

          (a)  From the commencement of the term hereof through September 30, 
1998, the Executive shall receive a base annual salary of two hundred five 
thousand dollars ($205,000) ( the "Base Salary") which Base Salary shall be 
earned and shall be payable at such intervals not less frequently than 
monthly, in equal installments, and otherwise in such manner as is consistent 
with the Company's normal practice for remuneration of executives;

          (b)  The Board of Directors shall review the Executive's base 
salary on each of the anniversary dates of the execution of this Agreement in 
order to determine whether the Executive's salary should receive an upward 
adjustment;

          (c)  The Executive shall be entitled to bonus compensation during 
the term hereof, as determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors of 
the Company;

          (d)  The Executive's salary shall be payable subject to such 
deductions as are then required by law and such further deductions as may be 
agreed to by the Executive, in accordance with the Company's prevailing 
salary payroll practices.

     5.   BENEFITS AND EXPENSES.  During the term of this Agreement, the 
Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits and expense 
reimbursement:

          (a)  The Executive shall be entitled to up to four (4) weeks of 
paid vacation per calendar year, in accordance with the Company's policy from 
time to time in effect as determined by the Board;

          (b)  The Executive shall be entitled to participate in and/or 
receive all fringe benefits such as medical, disability, hospital and health 
insurance plans, and profit 


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sharing, pension plan, life insurance and other plans, if any, which the 
Company may generally make available to its executives.  The Executive shall 
also be included in the Directors and Officers' indemnification insurance 
policy, if obtained;

          (c)  The Company shall also issue to the Executive a corporate 
credit card to be utilized by the Executive in connection with any additional 
out-of-pocket expenses which he may incur in connection with the performance 
of his duties.  During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall, upon 
presentation of proper vouchers, also reimburse the Executive for all 
reasonable expenses incurred by him directly in connection with his 
performance of services as an officer and Executive of the Company;

          (d)  The Corporation shall maintain on behalf of the Executive, a 
one million dollar ($1,000,000) key man life insurance policy, which shall 
name the Company as beneficiary;

          (e)  The Executive shall receive as paid days off all national 
holidays that the Company, pursuant to established policy, recognizes and 
observes.

     6.   DISABILITY AND DEATH.

          (a)  DISABILITY - If, during the term of this Agreement, the 
Executive becomes so disabled or incapacitated by reason of any physical or 
mental illness so as to be unable to perform the services required of him 
pursuant to this Agreement for a continuous period of four (4) months, or for 
an aggregate of six (6) months during any consecutive twelve (12) month 
period, then the Company may, upon 30 days' written notice to the Executive, 
terminate this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the termination of the Agreement 
hereunder by reason of disability, the Company shall pay the Executive his 
Base Salary then in effect along with all other fringe benefits (including, 
without limitation, family medical benefits) for a period of one (1) year 
following the date of such termination, such payment to be made in one lump 
sum, no later than 3 months following the date of termination.  The Company 
shall purchase temporary and permanent disability insurance on the Executive. 
 Payments made hereunder shall not affect any other payments made to the 
Executive.

          (b)  DEATH - This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon and 
as of the date of death of the Executive at any time during the term of this 
Agreement.  Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement by reason of 
the Executive's death, the Company will pay to the Executive's estate his 
Base Salary, and shall continue family medical benefits coverage for the 
Executive's family, then in effect for a period of one (1) year following the 
date of such termination, such payment to be made in one lump sum no later 
than 3 months following the date of death.

     7.   COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS.


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          (a)  For a period of one (1) year following the termination of this 
Agreement (the "Non-Compete Period"), the Executive shall not, directly or 
indirectly, engage in, own, manage, operate, assist, join or control, or 
participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of any 
Restricted Enterprise (other than the Company or its affiliates), which 
engages or plans to engage in a Restricted Enterprise anywhere in the United 
States, whether as a director, officer, executive, agent, consultant, 
shareholder, partner, owner, independent contractor or otherwise.  
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these restrictions shall not prevent the 
Executive from earning his livelihood during the Non-Compete Period.  As used 
herein, a "Restricted Enterprise" shall be any activity that competes with 
the business of the Company as constituted or as realistically contemplated 
to be conducted by the Company during the term of this Agreement in the 
Southwest United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of 
this Section 7(a) shall not apply if Executive's employment is terminated 
pursuant to Section 11(b) or Section 12 of this Agreement.

          (b)  The Executive agrees that he shall not divulge to others, nor 
shall he use to the detriment of the Company or in any business competitive 
with or similar to any business engaged in by the Company or any of its 
subsidiary or affiliated companies, at any time during his employment with 
the Company or thereafter, any Confidential Information obtained by him 
during the course of his employment with the Company.  For the purpose of 
this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means any and all information 
developed by or for or processed by the Company or its affiliates of which 
the Executive has knowledge during the term of his employment that is (1) not 
generally known in any industry in which the Company or its affiliates does 
business during the Non-Compete Period or (2) not publicly available and 
treated as confidential.

          (c)  During the Non-Compete Period, the Executive will neither 
solicit, hire or seek to solicit or hire any of the Company's personnel in 
any capacity whatsoever nor shall Executive induce or attempt to induce any 
of the Company's personnel to leave the employ of the Company to work for 
Executive or otherwise.

     8.   REMEDIES.  The Executive acknowledges that his breach of any of the 
restrictive covenants contained in Section 7 herein may cause irreparable 
damage to the Company for which remedies at law would be inadequate. 
Accordingly, if Executive breaches or threatens to breach any of the 
provisions of Section 7, the Company shall be entitled to appropriate 
injunctive relief, including, without limitation, preliminary or permanent 
injunctions, in any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining Executive 
from taking any action prohibited hereby.  This remedy shall be in addition 
to all other remedies available to the Company at law or equity.  If any 
portion of Section 7 is adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, Section 7 
shall be deemed amended to delete therefrom the points so adjudicated, such 
deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of Section 7 in the 
jurisdiction in which the adjudication is made.

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     9.   INDEMNIFICATION.  The Company hereby indemnifies and holds the 
Executive harmless from any and all expenses (including legal fees) or losses 
incurred by him in connection with the performance of his duties under this 
Agreement.

     10.  PRIOR AGREEMENTS.  The Executive represents that he is not now 
under any written agreement, nor has he previously, at any time, entered into 
any written agreement with any person, firm or corporation, which would or 
could in any manner preclude or prevent him from giving freely and the 
Company receiving the exclusive benefit of his services.

     11.  TERMINATION PROVISIONS.

          (a)  In addition to, and not in lieu of, the termination provisions 
set forth in Section 6 herein, the employment of the Executive hereunder may 
be terminated by the Company prior to the termination date of the initial 
term or any renewal term thereafter (as set forth in Section 2 hereof) for 
sufficient "cause," which cause is defined specifically in the event that the 
Executive is guilty of (i) a willful and reckless disregard to perform his 
duties as set forth in Section 3 herein, or (ii) willful misfeasance for 
which the Company is directly and adversely affected, or (iii) any act of 
dishonesty by the Executive bearing directly upon the Company.  Termination 
of the Executive's employment by the Company for reckless disregard of his 
duties to the Company, willful misfeasance or any act of dishonesty with 
respect to the Company hereunder shall constitute, and is referred to 
elsewhere herein, as termination for "Cause."  Such termination of the 
Executive's employment hereunder for Cause shall be effective upon delivery 
of written notice to the Executive which notice shall be sworn affidavit from 
at least two non-interested parties, setting forth with specificity the exact 
nature of the "cause" for which the Executive is being terminated.  Upon the 
termination of this Agreement for "cause" as set forth in this subparagraph, 
the Company shall not be obligated to make any further payments hereunder to 
the Executive.

          (b)  Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement to the 
contrary, the Company may terminate the employment of the Executive without 
Cause, but in such event the Company shall be obligated to pay the Executive 
any and all amounts payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 4 above for 
the greater of (i) the remainder of the initial term or the extended term, as 
the case may be, of the Agreement in effect immediately prior to such 
termination, or (ii) one (1) year (the "Remainder Term"), and the Company 
shall also continue for the Remainder Term to permit the Executive to receive 
or participate in all fringe benefits available to him pursuant to Section 5 
above; provided, however, that during the Remainder Term any amounts payable 
to the Executive pursuant to this Section 11(b), and any fringe benefits 
which he receives or in which he participates 


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pursuant to this Section 11(b), shall be reduced by any payments or fringe 
benefits the Executive shall receive during the Remainder Term from any other 
source of employment which is unaffiliated with the Company.

     12.  CHANGE OF CONTROL.
     
          (a)  A "change of control" shall be deemed to occur when

               (i)   the Executive is not elected as an officer of the Company 
(or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates);

               (ii)  the Company's shareholders approve (x) a merger or 
consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation and/or 
which results in any reclassification or reorganization of the then 
outstanding Common Stock, (y) a sale of all or substantially all of the 
Company's assets or capital stock or (z) a plan of liquidation or dissolution 
of the Company;

               (iii) the Common Stock is first purchased pursuant to a tender 
or exchange offer (other than a tender or exchange offer made by the Company) 
affecting at least 25% of the Common Stock or any other sale of at least 25% 
of the Common Stock to a person or group of persons who are not officers, 
directors or 5% shareholders of the Company on the date hereof; or

               (iv)  there is any other material change in ownership or 
management of the Company after which (x) the Executive is terminated or (y) 
in the sole determination of the Executive, there is a significant change in 
the Executive's duties, responsibilities, principal location of employment, 
or compensation.

          (b)  In the event a change of control occurs at any time during the 
term of this Agreement:

               (i)  the Executive may, by written notice to the Company 
within sixty (60) days after the date of such change of control, elect to 
terminate his employment with the Company within sixty (60) days after such 
notice (the "Termination Date").  If the Executive elects to terminate his 
employment pursuant to Section 12, the Company shall pay the Executive, in 
addition to the remainder of his annual compensation, a "parachute payment," 
as said term is defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
as amended, (the "Code") in an amount equal to 2.99 times the Executive's 
annual compensation (or such other amount then permitted by the Code), 
including the Base Salary, bonus compensation or other remuneration and 
fringe benefits, if any.  This amount shall be payable by the Company to the 
Executive in one lump sum payment within sixty (60) days of the Termination 
Date.  The Executive shall be responsible for payment of all income or excise 
taxes which may become due as a result of the company's 


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payment to him of any "excess parachute payments," as such phrase is defined 
in Section 280G of the Code, and

               (ii) any options beneficially owned by the Executive at the 
time of such change in control shall immediately vest in full and shall be 
exercisable by the Executive at any time prior to the expiration date of the 
respective options.

     13.  ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES.  All controversies, claims and disputes 
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be 
settled by arbitration conducted by the American Arbitration Association, in 
accordance with the commercial Arbitration Rules of said Association in 
effect at the time of the controversy, claim or dispute.  Judgment upon the 
award rendered by the Arbitrator (or Arbitrators) may be entered in any court 
having jurisdiction thereof.

     14.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGN.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit 
of and be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and upon the 
Executive, his heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and legal 
representatives.

     15.  NOTICE.  Any notice, statement, report, request or demand required 
or permitted to be given by this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be 
sufficient if delivered in person or if addressed and sent by certified mail, 
return receipt requested, to the parties at the addresses set forth above, or 
at such other place that either party may designate by notice in the 
foregoing manner to the other.

     16.  WAIVER.  The failure of either party to insist upon the strict 
performance of any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement 
shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of future compliance 
therewith, and said terms, conditions and provisions shall remain in full 
force and effect.  No waiver of any term or any condition of this Agreement 
on the part of either party shall be effective for any purpose whatsoever 
unless such waiver is in writing and signed by such party.

     17.  MISCELLANEOUS.

          (a)  Should any part of this Agreement, for any reason whatsoever, 
be declared invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced in whole or in 
part, such decision shall not affect the validity of any remaining portion, 
which remaining portion shall remain in full force and effect as if this 
Agreement had been executed with the invalid portion thereof eliminated, and 
it is hereby declared the intention of the parties hereto that they would 
have executed the remaining portion of this Agreement without including 
therein any portion which may for any reason be declared invalid.


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          (b)  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance 
with the laws of the State of Nevada applicable to agreements made and 
performed in such State without application to the principles or conflicts of 
laws.

          (c)  This Agreement and all rights hereunder are personal to the 
Executive and shall not be assignable, and any purported assignment in 
violation thereof shall be null and void.  Any person, firm or corporation 
succeeding to the business of the Company by merger, consolidation, purchase 
of assets or otherwise, shall assume by contract or operation of law the 
obligations of the Company hereunder; provided, however, that the Company 
shall, notwithstanding such assumption and/or assignment, remain liable and 
responsible for the fulfillment of the terms and conditions of the Agreement 
on the part of the Company.

          (d)  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the 
parties hereto with respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive's 
employment by the Company, as distinguished from any other contractual 
arrangements between the parties pertaining to or arising out of their 
relationship, and this Agreement supersedes and renders null and void any and 
all other prior oral or written agreements, understandings, or commitments 
pertaining to the Executive's employment by the Company.  No variation hereof 
shall be deemed valid unless in writing and signed by the parties hereto.  No 
waiver by either party of any provision or condition of this Agreement by him 
or it to be performed shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar 
provisions and conditions at the same time or any prior or subsequent time.

          (e)  The heading of the paragraphs herein are inserted for 
convenience and shall not affect any interpretation of this Agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement 
as of the day and year first written above.

"EXECUTIVE"                             "COMPANY"

                                        FIBERCHEM, INC.

/s/ Geoffrey F. Hewitt                  By:  /s/ Scott J. Loomis
--------------------------                 ---------------------------
Name:  Geoffrey F. Hewitt               Name:  Scott J. Loomis
                                        Title: Chairman of the Board


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