Orbite files patent on alumina preparation

 Orbite files patent on alumina preparation

  Montreal Gazette December 7, 2010   Exploration Orbite Inc., developer of aluminous clay deposits near Murdochville in Quebec's Gaspé region, said Tuesday it has filed for a new provisional U.S. patent covering improvements to its alumina preparation process.

Orbite has explored the clay reserves and is building a pilot processing plant at nearby Cap Chat to produce small quantities of alumina from the clays. The patented processing technology has been proved in the laboratory.

Orbite plans initial commercial-scale production of super-high-grade alumina for the electronics industry - assuming success at the pilot plant stage. Later, it would be sold to Quebec's aluminum smelting industry. Alimina is the intermediate material for production of primary aluminum metal.

Orbite said its agents Bereskin & Parr in Montreal expects to file another patent application for additional improvements to the processing technology early next year. "Innovation holds the key to achieving higher yield and lower production costs in a project like ours," said Orbite CEO Richard Boudreault.