3rd Milestone Achieved ALCORE and Testwork Commenced
Sydney, July 3, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian Bauxite Limited's (
ASX:ABX)(A7B:FRA) wholly-owned subsidiary, ALCORE Limited has commenced the chemical refining of ABx bauxite into aluminium fluoride (AlF3), commencing with removal of silicon and iron oxides to create a clear solution containing the aluminium fluoride that will be produced by a crystalliser-still stage in coming days.
This milestone was achieved successfully last week at the ALCORE Research Centre in Berkeley Vale, Central Coast NSW - next focus on designing the optimum blend of bauxite and reagents for the ALCORE mini-production plant
- Construction of the sophisticated mini-production plant was completed over the last 4 months
- ALCORE's patent (pending) application technology is designed to refine raw bauxite to produce Aluminium Fluoride (AlF3) and valuable co-products. AlF3 is an essential electrolyte ingredient in aluminium smelters
- Global demand for AlF3 is increasing strongly as aluminium smelter production increases and the use of AlF3 in lithium ion batteries increases
- Co-products include Corethane, which is pure hydrocarbon powder refined from low-value coals that can be a gas or diesel substitute and has many industrial applications
- Corethane has been used as a diesel substitute for fuel security purposes and is ideally suited for use as a sulphur-free bunker fuel for shipping under new strict emissions laws
- Discussions continue with governments, agencies and major companies in the aluminium industry
ABx CEO, Ian Levy commented: "The ALCORE Research Centre has created a laboratory with the highest standards of safety, equipment and technology. At the same time, the ALCORE team designed and constructed the ALCORE mini-production plant which will be our 4th milestone over the next few weeks. The mini-production plant will supply test samples to our three prospective customers.
"I have never seen a more powerful reagent for dissolving rocks - our 4mm sized bauxite was reduced to iron-dust and a clear liquor within a few minutes. ALCORE's powerful new bauxite refining technology can lead to Australia's first production of AlF3 products to provide security of supply for Australasian aluminium smelters. ALCORE's production of Corethane hydrocarbon can change the energy supply and fuel security outlook for eastern Australia.
"ABx is also pressing ahead with its three core bauxite projects; the Tasmanian mine, the large Binjour Project in central QLD and the Penrose refractory bauxite project 90km inland of Port Kembla NSW. Bulk sampling and processing testwork at the Binjour Project was completed last week and assays are pending."
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About ABx Group Limited
ABx Group Limited (ABx) (ASX:ABX) is a uniquely positioned Australian company delivering materials for a cleaner future.
The three priority projects are:
- Heavy rare earths: Supplying light and heavy rare earths from Tasmania into Western supply chains
o Processing Options Analysis conducted in partnership with external experts
- Clean fluorine chemical production: Producing industrial chemicals from aluminium smelter by-product (ALCORE)
o Continuous pilot plant under construction in Bell Bay, Tasmania
- Near-term bauxite production: Mining bauxite resources for the aluminium, cement and fertiliser industries
o Agreements executed with Good Importing International for bauxite projects in Queensland and New South Wales, and $2.7 million initial payment has been received
o Approvals well advanced for DL130 bauxite project in northern Tasmania
ABx endorses best practices on agricultural land and strives to leave land and environment better than we find it. We only operate where welcomed.
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