Orbite to produce high purity alumina from fly ash

Orbite Aluminae today announced that, based on its patented clean technology for producing alumina, the Company has successfully developed process parameters and a final design for the production of alumina (smelter-grade or high-purity) using fly ash which is created during coal combustion. This is a promising advancement of Orbite's green technology, offering attractive opportunities for thermal power producers worldwide.

Fly ash typically contains alumina concentrations ranging from 5-35% along with significant levels of silica, iron, rare earths and rare metals, depending on the original composition of the coal. According to the International Energy Agency, coal generates approximately 41% of the world's electricity and is a significant fuel source for many industrial thermal processes. According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), approximately 43% of alumina produced worldwide in 2011 was manufactured using coal as a fuel source. Until now, fly ash produced by coal-fired thermal power plants were stored in reserves or discharged with few options for recycling outside of cement processes.

"Orbite's unique technology has once again proven to be groundbreaking in its breadth and scope," noted Denis Primeau, Orbite's Chief Engineer. "We have already succeeded in producing alumina samples from source materials including clay, bauxite, and red mud, and we have now successfully expanded our family of feedstocks to include fly ash. It is truly remarkable how quickly we are able to validate the economic advantages of the process in addition to establishing the design criteria."

Richard Boudreault, President and CEO of Orbite, added, "We believe this is a significant breakthrough for Orbite; these results mean that our technology could be used in new ways that were previously unanticipated. Recovery of the elements contained in fly ash would not only solve an environmental liability but also generate revenues for companies using coal-based thermal power in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas."

This new application of Orbite's technology is anticipated to be economically viable, based on different sources of fly ash, with an alumina content as low as 15%. Orbite's preliminary evaluation projected recovery rates which are expected to reach a minimum of 88% of alumina content and 96% of other metals present (e.g., silica, hematite, magnesium oxide, etc). The chemical analyses of the tests materials were performed by the independent laboratory AGAT Laboratories.

Update on construction progress of HPA plant

Orbite Aluminae is pleased to report it will be receiving delivery this week of large glass-lined leaching equipment and multiple reservoirs to its high-purity alumina plant in Cap-Chat, Quebec. Construction work is progressing ahead of schedule and plant commissioning is expected to begin in December.

The technical content in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Denis Primeau, Eng., a "qualified person" pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). Mr. Primeau is the Chief Engineer of Orbite, and as such, is not independent pursuant to NI 43-101.