MONTREAL,
Sept. 6, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Argex
Titanium Inc. (TSXV: RGX) (FSE: ASV) (OTCBB: ARGEF) today
announced it has successfully completed the production scale up of
high purity titanium dioxide (TiO2) at its pilot
plant.
Production capacity has increased from 0.3
kg/day to 10kg/day, a 3,000% increase in production. As stated in
earlier news releases, this was achieved in two stages. First, the
3 kg/day capacity plant was installed and tested. A new 10 kg/day
capacity plant was then constructed in an adjacent building. The
pilot plant is located at PRO in Mississauga, Ontario.
"This successful scale-up provides another
affirmation of our CTL chemical technology process. The primary
purposes of the scale-up were to decrease pilot plant operating
costs and increase TiO2 production volume, thus
permitting end-user sampling on a much larger scale for use in
their paint production. We can now produce more than three tonnes
of TiO2 per year from our Mississauga plant," said Enrico Di Cesare, COO & VP Technology for
Argex. "Scalability was never an issue. The delays experienced in
the scale-up of the pilot plant were due to delivery delays and
minor - but necessary - design changes to the building. This will
not be a factor in the construction of our industrial plant."
"This is a significant milestone for the
company," said Roy Bonnell,
President and CEO of Argex. "Our team is focused on actively
pushing Argex to the next level and, with key and experienced
personnel in place, I believe we will get there in short
order."
The CTL process is a proprietary mineral
extraction process that allows for the production of high purity
(99.8% pure) pigment grade TiO2 product, which can then
be sold to the end-users in the paint, plastic and coating
industries.
The process is unique in that it produces
high-purity TiO2 in a single location through a single
process directly from the ore material. The equipment used in all
parts of the process is known and readily available.
The process is also environmentally friendly due
to its high energy efficiency, low emissions and its closed-loop
design, which uses relatively low concentrations of hydrochloric
acid that is regenerated after use in the process.
About Argex Titanium Inc.
ARGEX TITANIUM INC. is a near-term producer of
Titanium Dioxide. With a primary goal of advancing rapidly towards
production, Argex has adopted a simple and low-risk strategy for
the scale-up of its proprietary process that allows it to produce
high-purity TiO2 directly from run-of-mine material.
The process is running continuously at the
mini-plant in Mississauga,
Ontario. The closed-loop process is environmentally friendly
and produces minimal inert tailings.
Additionally, the Corporation owns 100% of the
Mouchalagane property, which is a large Labrador trough iron ore property that
represents further potential upside for the Argex shareholders.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Argex Titanium Inc.