Itronics Developing Manganese Recovery Technology

RENO, Nev., Oct. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Itronics Inc. (OTC: ITRO), an emerging "Cleantech Materials" growth Company that manufactures GOLD'n GRO Multi-Nutrient Fertilizers and produces Silver, today announced that it has successfully tested two proprietary processes that recover manganese. One process recovers manganese, potassium and zinc from paste produced by processing non-rechargeable alkaline batteries. The second process that recovers manganese is the Company's revolutionary Rock Kleen Technology.

Manganese has been designated by the Federal Government as a "Critical Mineral." Manganese is one of the four most important industrial metals and is widely used by the steel industry worldwide. It is a major component of non-rechargeable alkaline batteries, one of the largest battery categories sold in the world. The use of manganese in EV batteries is increasing as EV battery technology is shifting to use of more nickel and manganese in battery formulations. According to a recent United Nations report, manganese is one of the four most important battery materials.

According to the U.S. Department of Interior, there is no mine production of manganese in the United States. Itronics is using its revolutionary Rock Kleen Technology to test metal recoverability from mine tailings obtained from a former silver mine in western Nevada that has a high manganese content. The Rock Kleen process is recovering silver, manganese, zinc, copper, lead and nickel. The Company has calculated, based on laboratory test results, that if a Rock Kleen tailings process is put into commercial production, the former mine site would become the only primary manganese producer in the United States.

Itronics has also tested non-rechargeable alkaline battery paste recovered by a large domestic battery recycling company to determine if it could use one of its hydrometallurgical processes to solubilize the manganese, potassium, and zinc contained in the paste. This testing was successful, and Itronics was able to produce material useable in two of its GOLD'n GRO fertilizers.

"We believe that the chemistry of the two recovery processes would lend itself to electrochemical recovery of the manganese, zinc, and other metals. At this time electrochemical recovery has been tested for zinc and copper. Itronics has been reviewing procedures for electrochemical recovery of manganese and plans to move this technology forward when it is appropriate to do so and has acquired electro-winning equipment needed to do that," said Dr. John Whitney, Itronics President.

"Because of the two described proprietary technologies, Itronics is positioned to become a domestic manganese producer on a large scale to satisfy domestic demand. The actual manganese products have not yet been defined, except for use in the Company's GOLD'n GRO Multi-Nutrient Fertilizers. However, the Company believes that it will be able to produce chemical manganese products as well as electrochemical products," Dr. Whitney said.

Itronics R & D and manufacturing plant are located in Reno, Nevada about 40 miles west of the Tesla Giga-factory. The planned Itronics Cleantech Materials Campus, which is located about 40 miles south of the Tesla Giga-factory, would be the location were the manganese products would be produced. Panasonic is operating one of the world's largest EV battery factories at the Tesla location. Tesla and other companies have announced that EV battery technology is shifting to use of nickel-manganese batteries. Itronics is positioned and located to become a Nevada based supplier of manganese products for battery manufacturing as its manganese recovery technologies are advanced.

A long-term objective for Itronics is to become a leading producer of high purity metals, including the U.S. critical metals manganese and tin, using the Company's breakthrough hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and electrochemical technologies. Additionally, Itronics is strategically positioned with its portfolio of "Zero Waste Energy Saving Technologies" to help solve the recently declared emergency need for domestic production of Critical Minerals from materials located at mine sites.

Itronics Inc. is an emerging Clean Tech Materials Growth Company that produces GOLD'n GRO Multi-Nutrient Fertilizers and Silver. The Company is also an emerging "Critical Minerals" producer. The Company's growth forecast centers upon its 10-year business plan designed to integrate its Zero Waste Energy Saving Technologies and to grow annual sales from $2 million in 2019, to $113 million in 2025.

About Itronics

Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Itronics Inc. is a "Creative Clean Technology" Company which produces GOLD'n GRO Multi-Nutrient liquid fertilizers, silver bullion, and silver-bearing glass. The Company's goal is to achieve profitable clean technology driven organic growth in specialty GOLD'n GRO Multi-Nutrient fertilizers, silver, copper, tin, zinc, and minerals. The Company's technologies maximize the recovery and uses of metals and minerals and by doing this maximize sustainability.

The Company's environmentally friendly award winning GOLD'n GRO Multi-Nutrient liquid fertilizers, which are extensively used in agriculture, can be used for lawns and houseplants, and are available at the Company's "e-store" on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_lawn-garden?ie+UTF8&field-brandtextbin=GOLD%27n+GRO&node+2972638011. Due to expanded retail customer interest, GOLD'n GRO fertilizer may now be purchased in Reno, Nevada at "Buy Nevada First Gift Shop," 4001 S. Virginia St.

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("Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains or may contain forward-looking statements such as statements regarding the Company's growth and profitability, growth strategy, liquidity and access to public markets, operating expense reduction, and trends in the industry in which the Company operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in risks, uncertainties or assumptions underlying or affecting such statements, or for prospective events that may have a retroactive effect.)

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SOURCE Itronics Inc.

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