US Patent No.8460681 issuedAmerican Manganese Receives U.S. Patent for Manganese Extraction Process (ccnm)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 11, 2013) - Larry W. Reaugh, Chief Executive Officer of American Manganese Inc. ("American Manganese" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AMY)(PINKSHEETS:AMYZF)(FRANKFURT:2AM), reports that the Company has received the "US Patent No. 8460681" from the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office for the Company's manganese recovery process. This patent is a significant milestone for the Company as the invention is now secured as a key asset that can be exclusively capitalized." The invention is a technical break-through as it enables the recovery of manganese from a low grade resource with significantly less energy and environmental impact than conventional processing methods. The U.S. Bureau of mines (USBM) developed the frame work of the process from the 1940's to 1980 but they were never able to make it economically viable. Kemetco Research Inc. successfully completed the process to demonstrate it can complete with other electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) and electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) producers in the lower percentile of costs for producers anywhere in the world.
The patent describes key details of how manganese can be recovered from a low grade resource with the following key advantages:
- Low energy requirement.
- Low water use.
- Robust process with a unique assembly of commercially available equipment.
"The hydrometallurgical process developed by the Company is capable of producing high purity electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) and chemical manganese dioxide (CMD) critical for improving performance and safety of high tech lithium ion batteries. The invention by-passes steps known to introduce metallic impurities when producing these materials using conventional mining processes. Norman Chow, President of Kemetco Research states, "Conventional mining processes used to produce manganese dioxide for lithium ion batteries are known to contaminate cathode materials with metallic impurities. These impurities can cause internal short circuits after a number of charge/discharge cycles, which will by-pass any protection circuits, and unfortunately can lead to fires or explosions." i.e.: electric vehicles, laptops, cellphones etc."
- High purity manganese dioxide is combined with lithium carbonate to form the cathode material used in the "spinel" type high tech lithium ion rechargeable battery.
The Company is applying to register the patent in other countries which may be able to adopt American Manganese's process on contract from the Company. The patent for China has already been applied for.
Ongoing Activity
- Company continues to discuss and negotiate potential financings, strategic partnerships and mergers with several institutions and investors directly or through agents.
- The Company is looking at reconfiguring their land package in Arizona to reduce costs and streamline future activity.
- Management is investigating potential domestic opportunities in manganese that have the potential to enhance their Artillery Peak Project.
- The Artillery Peak manganese project has the potential to move ahead and develop the resources to become a potential supplier of high purity EMD product for the battery industry.
About Kemetco Research Inc.
Kemetco Research is a privately owned contract Research and Development Company specializing in extractive metallurgy, chemical processing and specialty chemical analysis.
About Manganese
There is no substitute for manganese in steel (total manganese market greater than 33 billion pounds per year, fourth largest traded metal).
Manganese is a critical metal at risk for supply disruptions in the United States as there is no U.S. production.
Electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) for the battery industry is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of the manganese market.
About American Manganese Inc.
American Manganese Inc. is a diversified specialty and critical metal Company focusing on potentially becoming a producer of high purity EMD and CMD for the battery industry.
This release has been reviewed by John W. Fisher, PEng, a qualified person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101.
On behalf of Management
AMERICAN MANGANESE INC.
Larry W. Reaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer
This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the TSX-Venture Exchange, the British Columbia Securities Commission and the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Contact Information:
American Manganese Inc.
Larry W. Reaugh
President and Chief Executive Officer
604-531-9639
American Manganese Inc.
Connie Fischer
Investor Relations
604-531-9639 ext. 110
connieir@amymn.com or info@amymn.com
www.americanmanganeseinc.com