MONTREAL, Jan. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - PyroGenesis Canada Inc. ("PyroGenesis" or the "Company") (TSX-V: PYR), an environmental solutions company that designs, develops and manufactures plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, today announced that it has filed for patent protection for its energy efficient, salt-free recovery of metal from zinc and aluminum dross. Dross is a residue from metallurgical processes that is generated when hot molten metal contacts air.
Current practices often require zinc and aluminum smelters to ship their dross residue to a third party for expensive treatment and metal recovery. PyroGenesis' technology, DROSRITE Plus, treats hot dross right at the smelter, resulting in improved metal recovery and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas generation.
"The pursuit of new market niches for our plasma-based technology is consistent with our strategy to diversify and expand our market opportunities into areas where there is a need for environmentally friendly solutions that can reduce greenhouse gases," said P. Peter Pascali, President and Chief Executive Officer of PyroGenesis. "Our DROSRITE Plus technology has a low capital and operating cost compared to conventional practices, and we believe it has the potential for widespread application in the zinc and aluminum industry."
Dr. Michel Drouet, Chief Scientific Advisor to PyroGenesis, commented, "This leading-edge technology has gone through extensive testing at metallurgical operations in Canada, the United States and Europe. As published in TMS Light Metals, a renowned metallurgical industry publication, the amount of aluminum dross produced in the world represents approximately 5% of the total world aluminum production (1.5 million tons per year). As such, we believe there is significant market potential for DROSRITE Plus. If the aluminum industry used DROSRITE Plus to process the 1.5 million tons per year of its dross "reject", then this could potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 750,000 tons per year, which is the equivalent of 200,000 fewer cars on the road. "
About PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (www.pyrogenesis.com)
PyroGenesis Canada is an environmental solutions company that designs, develops and manufactures plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products. PyroGenesis' proprietary plasma technologies utilize the intense energy of plasma to gasify and vitrify virtually any type of waste without producing hazardous by-products. PyroGenesis' patented gasification and vitrification technology is different from incineration because it produces a clean synthetic gas from waste, which can be used for power generation. PyroGenesis' technology can also turn waste into a glassy rock that can be utilized as construction material. PyroGenesis has marquee defense industry and civilian customers that are using its technology in marine and land-based applications.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
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