Itronics Reports the Stage 1 Silver Refinery Expansion Is Increasing Silver Production Capacity by 50 Percent; Reducing Cost ...
October 06 2011 - 10:20AM
Marketwired
Itronics Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ITRO) reported today that its subsidiary
Itronics Metallurgical, Inc. Stage 1 silver refinery expansion, the
Itromet FeLix leaching process, is reducing the solids weight by 55
percent and the solids volume is being reduced by 70 percent. This
is producing a 50 percent increase in refining capacity and a 40
percent reduction in refining cost when the silver bearing solids
are refined. Process optimization work is continuing and further
significant improvements are expected.
The Stage 1 expansion includes the development of three new
silver bearing solids leaching processes: (1) the Itromet FeLix
process to recover iron, zinc, and manganese from feed solids for
use as ingredients in the GOLD'n GRO fertilizers; (2) the Itromet
SuLix process to recover sulfur, and (3) the K-Thio process to
convert the recovered sulfur for use as an ingredient in the GOLD'n
GRO fertilizers. The silver and any other non-nutrient metals
remain in the residual solids that are delivered to the refinery.
The Itromet FeLix process to recover iron is being implemented
first.
"The process chemistry is very complex, which has slowed
development," said Dr. John Whitney, Itronics President. "We have
integrated the new process into the plant operations with part of
the silver bearing solids going directly to the refinery and part
of the solids going to the new process. Silver bearing residual
solids from the process then go to the refinery. The recovered iron
will be used as a raw material for GOLD'n GRO fertilizer
manufacturing."
Integration of the new iron-bearing leach liquors into the
fertilizer manufacturing processes has begun. Initially, the new
iron raw material will be used in the GOLD'n GRO 10-0-0 +4%Fe
chelated micronutrient fertilizer. The amount of the new raw
material being produced is small relative to the manufacturing
requirements for annual GOLD'n GRO 10-0-0+4%Fe sales and so the raw
material cost reduction is small, but will increase as Itromet
FeLix processing capacity is expanded. Expected benefits from use
of the recovered iron are raw material cost stabilization and
improvement in fertilizer quality.
Work started in August 2010 on implementing the Itromet FeLix
process to recover iron from internally produced silver bearing
solids that are currently sent to the refinery for silver recovery.
The first silver recovered from solids processed by the Itromet
Felix process was shipped in early January 2011. Operation
development is continuing, and since January a portion of the
silver bearing solids delivered to the refinery have been processed
through the Itromet FeLix process. Actual silver output is directly
related to production of base liquids for fertilizer manufacturing
and is currently less than refining capacity.
This increase in per melt capacity is more than sufficient to
accommodate intermediate term growth. Successful development of the
Itromet FeLix process provides the capacity for acquisition of new
silver bearing materials to further expand growth. Itronics
Metallurgical has identified other potential applications for this
technology to create new large scale growth opportunities.
"The technology milestone being achieved in the Itromet FeLix
leaching circuit start up is very exciting and beneficial to the
Company and its shareholders," said Dr. John Whitney, Itronics
President. "We have successfully eliminated the silver refining
capacity bottle neck and are already seeing the operational and
financial benefits of this revolutionary new technology for the
Company."
This new technology development represents another step in
Itronics implementation of its business plan to use internally
developed environmentally green clean technology to produce solid
profitable growth. Itronics, through its subsidiary Itronics
Metallurgical, is the inventor and operator of award winning
recycling technology that converts spent photographic liquids into
pure silver and award winning GOLD'n GRO fertilizers.
Commercialization of this technology has created a "Green Consumer
Option" for photo and X-ray processors and "Green fertilizers" for
horticulture and agriculture. The fertilizers incorporate the
"essence" of green because of how they are sourced and because of
their excellent performance in the field.
About Itronics
Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Itronics Inc. is a "Creative
Clean Technology" company. Itronics, through its subsidiary,
Itronics Metallurgical, Inc. is the only Company with a fully
permitted "Beneficial Use Photochemical, Silver, and Water
Recycling" plant in the United States that converts used
photoliquids into pure silver and GOLD'n GRO liquid fertilizers.
The Company is developing environmentally compatible mining
technology, provides project planning and technical services to the
gold mining industry, and operates the popular InsideMetals.com web
site, http://www.insidemetals.com, which provides a value-added
WORLD VIEW of Gold Producer Stocks, Mineral Producer Stocks, Junior
Gold Stocks, and Junior Mineral Stocks.
VISIT OUR WEB SITE: http://www.itronics.com
("Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains or may contain
forward-looking statements. The Company's business is subject to
significant risks and uncertainties, including those more fully
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in
risks, uncertainties or assumptions underlying or affecting such
statements, or for prospective events that may have a retroactive
effect.)
Contact: Paul Knopick 888-795-6336
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