Orbite able to produce alumina from fly ash

MONTREAL, Quebec, Sept. 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Orbite Aluminae (TSX:ORT / OTCQX:EORBF) (the "Company" or "Orbite") 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.

About Orbite

Orbite Aluminae Inc. is a Canadian cleantech company whose innovative technologies are setting the new standard for alumina production. Orbite technologies enable environmentally-neutral extraction of smelter-grade alumina (SGA), high-purity alumina (HPA) and high-value elements, including rare earths and rare metals, from a variety of sources such as aluminous clay and bauxite, without generating the toxic red mud residue that the traditional Bayer process produces. The Company owns eleven different families of intellectual property rights (and patents pending) filed across the world for the extraction of alumina at the highest standards of sustainability. Orbite also owns exclusive mining rights over a total of 60,984 hectares, including the 6,665-hectare Grande-Vallee property, the site of an aluminous clay deposit in Quebec, Canada. An NI 43-101 compliant report, Reviewed Preliminary Economic Assessment, dated May 30, 2012 identified over 1 billion tonnes of aluminous clay in part of this deposit. Orbite is currently converting its 2,600 m² pilot plant in Cap-Chat, Quebec, Canada, into a full-scale high-purity alumina production facility, and expects this plant to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2013. The Company also anticipates the launch of construction of its first SGA plant towards the end of 2013. Orbite plans to offer SGA and HPA products and to license its low processing cost technologies to well-qualified producers who want to reduce their environmental footprint. Orbite has recently entered into partnerships with the world's largest aluminum producer, UC Rusal. Orbite recently published a series of white papers on the potential markets for its technology for production of alumina and extraction of rare metals. The white papers are available on our website: www.orbitealuminae.com/en/technology/white-paper

Forward-looking statements
Certain information contained in this document may include "forward-looking information". Without limiting the foregoing, the information and any forward-looking information may include statements regarding projects, costs, objectives and future returns of the Company or hypotheses underlying these items. In this document, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are based on information available at the time and/or the Company management's good-faith beliefs with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These risks uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described in the section of the Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) entitled "Risk and Uncertainties" as filed on March 22, 2012 on SEDAR, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it undertake, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements contained in this document to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

SOURCE: Orbite Aluminae Inc.

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