According to the below press release from yesterday, the EPA approval is expected in May or June of 2008 after which sales can proceed!!! The main thing to remember is that this is closing in on a done deal. The factual information is in the hands of the EPA and all we do is wait a little while for the approval!!!
Press Release Source: Itronics Inc.
Itronics Updates Progress on GOLD'n GRO Guardian Deer Repellent Fertilizer and Silver/Gold Recovery Technology Developments
Tuesday December 11, 9:00 am ET
RENO, Nev., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Itronics Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ITRO; Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges: ITG) today reported significant progress by its subsidiary, Itronics Metallurgical, Inc., on product and process developments that will both improve the Company's bottom line and its reputation for environmental excellence. Other recent highlights include:
-- The GOLD'n GRO Guardian deer repellent fertilizer application has been
received by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and has been
assigned a review classification number that provides for a 180-day
registration review period. This puts the registration on a schedule to
be completed in May-June, 2008, after which sales can proceed.
-- Revisions to the photochemical blending procedures that will increase
throughput capacity for GOLD'n GRO manufacturing by 250 percent have
been successfully implemented.
-- Negotiations are continuing with potential new suppliers of used
photochemicals, with startup on one new contract completed in November,
and another tentatively scheduled to begin in February 2008.
-- Work is continuing on equipment design and specification for the
expansion of the solids handling capacity in the silver refinery. Part
of the equipment has been received and engineering for equipment
installation is now proceeding.
Two new leaching processes that are under development, Itromet FeLix Process and Itromet SuLix Process, were described by Itronics in a news release dated November 6, 2007. Development of operating parameters for the two processes has been completed and bench tests to demonstrate the operating sequence for both processes, on a "start to finish" basis, are now underway. A pilot-scale leach circuit that uses both processes in sequence has been specified and sizing of process equipment and identification of specific items of equipment to develop an installation budget is underway. Layout design and engineering for the pilot-scale operating leach circuit is expected to begin early in the first quarter 2008.
A series of small pilot scale leach tests using the Itromet SuLix Process has been completed with essentially complete sulfur recovery from material containing 84 percent sulfur and 3 percent silver. More than 95 percent of the test lot of material was put into liquid solution leaving the silver in the solid residue for recovery by refining. This series of tests demonstrates that large improvements in silver refining capacity will be achieved once this process is fully operational due to the large bulk reduction of the silver-bearing solids.
The Itromet FeLix and SuLix processes are demonstrating the ability to separate nutrient metals and minerals (iron, zinc, and sulfur) from silver and gold bearing solids. The nutrient metals and minerals are put into liquid solution for use in the GOLD'n GRO liquid fertilizers, and the silver and gold bearing solids are sent to the refinery for recovery of the precious metals from non-nutrient impurities.
The Itromet FeLix and Itromet SuLix technologies improve resource use because nutrient metals that are now being wasted will be recovered for beneficial use once the complete leaching system is operational.
"Itronics' advancement and completion of new GOLD'n GRO products and vertically integrated silver/gold recovery technology is a result of years of research and development that has made the photochemical recycling technology and the GOLD'n GRO brand of environmentally compatible fertilizer a success," said Dr. John Whitney, Itronics President. "The GOLD'n GRO Guardian deer repellent fertilizer is made possible by the nutrient delivery technology embodied in the GOLD'n GRO fertilizers. We are truly excited by the way these developments are progressing and the potential for sales expansion that they represent."
