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Study Confirms: By-products from Lithium Production can be used in Cement Production

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Byproducts from Europe’s first lithium converter can compensate for the slowly reducing fly ash from the phasing-out of coal power, effectively reducing CO2 emissions in the construction industry.

Product properties of Portland cement are improved – Patent for production and use has been filed.

Rock Tech Lithium pursues a zero-waste strategy in Guben.

TORONTO, July 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (“Rock Tech” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the findings of a peer-reviewed study published by the German Lithium Institute. The study finds that by-products from Rock Tech’s Lithium conversion process can be used as precursor material in the cement industry. Specifically, it has been confirmed that leached spodumene concentrate (LSC) generated during the production of lithium from spodumene holds substantial industrial potential. The material, primarily composed of aluminosilicates, can be used in the cement industry as an additive for cement, replacing previously used fly ash, a now slowly depleting by-product of coal-fired power generation. This means that the by-products of Rock Tech’s lithium production can ensure the regional supply security of the German cement industry with LSC and help reduce CO2 emissions.

Furthermore, it has been shown that the compressive strength of Portland cement, the most used type of cement worldwide, increases by ten percent when 20 percent LSC is added—regardless of the origin of the spodumene used. The process for producing and utilizing the LSC has been submitted for a patent.

The study was conducted within the Mineralogy and Geochemistry research group at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg by doctoral candidate and ITEL scholarship holder Julia Woskowski. Dr. Andreas Neumann, a member of the research group, explains: “The phase-out of coal and the transformation of the steel industry will sooner or later lead to changed or disappearing material streams that have been significant for the cement industry in terms of CO2 savings and product portfolio. The LSC from lithium production has the potential to compensate for these depleting material streams in the future.”

Jannik Schmitz, Supply Chain Manager at ITEL shareholder Rock Tech Lithium, adds: “ITEL’s study takes us a big step further on our path to CO2 neutrality and becoming the first zero-waste lithium company worldwide. It is important to note that the suitability of LSC as a cement additive is independent of the origin of the spodumene used. This confirms our choice of production process and our procurement strategy to source spodumene from several sustainably producing sources.”

The study was supported by ITEL’s shareholding companies, Rock Tech Lithium Inc., GP Günter Papenburg AG, and SCHWENK Zement GmbH & Co. KG. SCHWENK offers comprehensive supply of cement, concrete, sand & gravel, and pumping services in Germany. Dr. Thomas Neumann, Head of Research and Development at SCHWENK, explains: “The use of industrial residues from lithium production in cements and concretes significantly contributes to the conservation of valuable natural resources. Through innovative material use, we make an important contribution to achieving our sustainability goals. By integrating these residues, we can not only reduce environmental impact but also decrease CO2 emissions.”

Rock Tech plans to build Europe’s first lithium converter in Guben, Brandenburg. With an annual production capacity of 24,000 tons of lithium hydroxide, the converter can provide material for the construction of 500,000 electric batteries. Thus, the converter forms an important component of the battery value chain. Soon, capacities for material recycling will be developed. Additionally, the company aims to become the first zero-waste lithium company in the world through the complete reuse of byproducts. The company benefits from regional value chains and short distances.

ORIGINAL STUDY: J Woskowski, A Neumann, H Roggendorf, R Wehrspohn, S Stöber, “Properties of low sulfur leached spodumene as supplementary cementitious material in ordinary Portland cement” in Construction and Building Materials, Volume 438, page 137096 (2024), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.137096; as well as the associated patent application EP 2415 6323 at the European Patent Office.

ABOUT ROCK TECH

Rock Tech’s vision is to supply the electric vehicle and battery industry with sustainable, locally produced lithium, targeting a 100% recycling rate. To ensure resilient supply chains, the company plans to build lithium converters at the doorstep of its customers, beginning with the Company’s proposed Lithium Hydroxide Converter in Guben, Brandenburg, Germany. The second Converter is planned to be built in Red Rock, Ontario, Canada. Rock Tech Lithium plans to source raw material from its own Georgia Lake spodumene project in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada, and procure from other ESG-compliant mines. Ultimately, Rock Tech’s goal is to create a closed-loop lithium production system. Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry to close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process to increase efficiency and sustainability further.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. 

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release constitute “forward-looking information” under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “predicts”, “believes”, “estimates”, “intends”, “targets”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “could” or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to expectations concerning the Guben Converter, including the design and features of the Guben Converter, as well as the expected costs, capital expenditures, timing and outcomes thereof; statements regarding the Company’s future plans, estimates, and schedules relating to the Guben Converter, including the anticipated timing of future activities taken in support of the development thereof; Rock Tech’s potential financing arrangements; the expected economic performance of the Guben Converter and anticipated production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and related processing methods employed; the estimated capital and operating costs of the Guben Converter; the anticipated timing and outcomes of a final investment decision, construction activities and commissioning of the Guben Converter; statements regarding the Company’s sustainability and ESG related goals and strategy, including the benefits and achievement thereof and future actions taken by the Company in relation thereto; expected regulatory processes and final outcomes; expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry, including the demand for and pricing of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and the benefits therefrom, and the development of political and regulatory frameworks especially in Germany and the European Union; Rock Tech’s opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company’s business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company’s operations and properties. Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company’s most recent management’s discussion and analysis and annual information form filed with the applicable securities regulators. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

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SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

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Cultivating a Culture of Peace: International Day of Peace Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif

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NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2024 /CNW/ — The longing for peace transcends time, geography and religion. Based on justice, human rights and universal values outlined in the UN Charter, a culture of peace brings us all together in our common agenda for humanity. We can only co-exist by aligning ourselves with such a world order.

On today’s International Day of Peace, we call on world leaders to end conflict and embrace a culture of peace as enshrined in the UN Charter and related international law.

As the UN General Assembly outlined in the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace  a quarter of a century ago, this must include: “Respect for life, human rights and fundamental freedoms; the promotion of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation; commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts; and adherence to freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations.”

Educating for peace starts at home and continues in school through years of education. This takes place during the most formative years of a child learning about their identity, ethics, values, conscience, courage and compassion. Wherever there has been a failure in imparting on children the imperative for peace, the world is turned upside down. This is a global failure with no geographical boundaries.

Today, we live in a world of unprecedented violence, armed conflict and chaos. All the genuine and heartfelt commitments made in 1945 in the UN Charter seem to be fading away. Children and adolescents are the most vulnerable, the least protected, and the most impacted. They bear the brunt. 

Global conflicts killed three times as many children in 2023 than in the previous year, according to the United Nations. The number of forcibly displaced people reached an unprecedented 120 million in May 2024.

“In 2023, the United Nations verified a record 32,990 grave violations against 22,557 children in 26 conflict zones, a 35% increase from the previous year,” according to recent analysis by the UN.

We can end these violations and invest in a constructive co-existence globally. We can use our resources for education, rather than for wars. In classrooms around the world, girls and boys who have withstood the wrath of war can rebuild their hopes and their lives. Cultivating a culture of peace is possible. The financial resources exist. The choice as to how we use them is ours.

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SOURCE Education Cannot Wait

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Niutech at the Forefront: U.S.-China Circular Economy Forum Tackles “White Pollution”

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BEIJING, Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On September 6, 2024, the inaugural U.S.-China Circular Economy Cooperation Forum was held in Beijing. The forum, guided by the U.S.-China Climate Action Working Group Circular Economy Task Force, was co-organized by the China Circular Economy Association and the US-China Business Council. The forum brought together approximately 460 distinguished guests from the National Development and Reform Commission of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Market Regulation, the US State Department, the US Department of Energy and other government departments, as well as industry experts, business representatives and scientific research institutions of the two countries. As the domestic leader in continuous pyrolysis technology, Niutech was invited by the China Circular Economy Association to attend the forum and gave an insightful speech on the topic of waste plastic recycling, and the issues of ‘white pollution’ that can result from it.

Enhancing Quality and Efficiency in the Circular Economy with Innovative Forces

The forum was strategically designed to advance the goals outlined in the U.S.-China “The Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis” (hereinafter referred to as the Sunnylands Statement). It aimed to create a collaborative platform for the business community, social organizations, and research institutions from both countries to foster exchanges and drive tangible cooperation in the circular economy.  

Zhao Chenxin, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President on International Climate Policy, Liu Zhenmin, China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs, Nicholas Burns, U.S. Ambassador to China, and Xie Zhenhua, former Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs of China, attended the opening ceremony of the Forum and delivered a speech, and Xie Feng, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., made a video message. Deputy Director Zhao Chenxin said that addressing climate change is a common cause for all mankind and cannot be separated from the cooperation between the two global forces, China and the United States.

The China-US Circular Economy Cooperation Forum, held as an initiative to implement the Sunnylands Statement, marked another significant milestone in China-US cooperation on the circular economy. This collaboration is crucial for both nations as they join forces to tackle the climate crisis. On the afternoon of September 6, the forum organized four parallel meetings, where representatives engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics such as using the recycling economy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promoting the application of recycled materials, addressing plastic pollution and enhancing recycling, and increasing the recycling value of waste in the context of new industries and consumption patterns.

Niutech: International Experts on Continuous Pyrolysis Technology and Pioneers in solving the global “white pollution” problem

Globally, hundreds of millions of tons of waste plastics are generated annually, yet only about 30% undergo recycling. Traditional physical methods are typically limited to high-value, single-category, and relatively clean waste plastics. However, repeated recycling can degrade the quality of the plastics. Chemical recycling, on the other hand, offers a transformative approach by converting waste plastics into high-value products or fuels through chemical processes, thus overcoming the limitations of physical recycling.

Pyrolysis technology, a cornerstone of chemical recycling, addresses the challenges associated with the material recycling of waste plastics. It is adept at processing various types of low-value, mixed, and contaminated waste plastics. The products of pyrolysis can be further processed to manufacture new plastics, achieving a closed-loop system where waste plastics are repurposed into high-value new plastics. This not only retains the material’s utility at a high level but also converts “white pollution” into a “white oil field,” signifying a major shift in the management and valorization of plastic waste.

At the forum, as the international expert in continuous pyrolysis technology, the corporate representative of Niutech shared the cases of waste plastic chemical recycling projects deployed with international giants BASF and Quantafuel in Denmark, Thailand and other countries. Niutech has developed its own pyrolysis technology and equipment, which they fully own the intellectual property rights to. This technology enables the transformation of low-value, mixed, and contaminated waste plastics—including various polymers such as PP, PE, PS, ABS—into high-quality fuel oil.  

The fuel oil derived from this process can undergo further refining into naphtha, a critical raw material in the production of new plastics. This advanced recycling process not only diverts plastics from landfills and the environment but also contributes to a circular economy by turning waste into a valuable resource.

In the future, Niutech will continue to champion the principle of “green, recycling and low-carbon” waste plastics pyrolysis. Armed with advanced technology, reliable equipment, abundant high-value solutions and proven experience, Niutech is committed to enhancing communication and cooperation with domestic and foreign partners. Together, they will drive forward the chemical recycling of waste plastics and the sustainable development of the global waste plastics recycling industry.

 

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SOURCE Niutech

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Global Ultrasound Institute Launches GUSI Fellowships Platform: Elevating Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Global Ultrasound Institute (GUSI) is proud to announce the launch of the GUSI Fellowships Platform, an innovative online platform designed to empower learners around the world to achieve confidence and competency in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). With a holistic, device-independent approach that includes comprehensive evidence-based education, personalized mentorship from world-class POCUS educators, detailed scan review feedback, quantitative assessments, and CME certification, GUSI is setting a new standard in POCUS education.

“GUSI’s online didactics are the best that I have seen. And what I like most about the fellowship were the 1:1 sessions and being able to interact with GUSI expert faculty who have many years of experience in POCUS. And you get to pick their brains and they get to instruct you 1:1. I have used the training I received from GUSI to do much more POCUS clinically and further impact my patients lives.”

Dr. James Wilcox,
Assistant POCUS Director, Indiana University School of Medicine
Adjunct Professor and Assistant Professor of Medicine

“Our mission at GUSI is to democratize access to high-quality ultrasound training,” said Dr. Kevin Bergman and Dr. Mena Ramos, Co-CEOs of Global Ultrasound Institute. “The GUSI Fellowships Platform enables learners from diverse backgrounds to enhance their skills in a supportive, flexible environment, making it easier than ever to reach their POCUS goals.”

With training options covering 38 different scan types, learners can expect personalized 1:1 mentorship with expert POCUS educators who provide timely feedback on practice scans.

“The GUSI fellowship mentors are the best: patient, kind, knowledgeable, experienced, and supportive. GUSI provided education in the areas I wanted and needed to obtain and in my home/office environment not requiring multiple trips around the country. It is not just the way course work is presented – learning is made easier by the support provided to each student.”

Dr. Glenda Patterson
Core Faculty, University of Arkansas Northwest Internal Medicine Residency
Physician, Veterans Health Care of the Ozarks
Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine

The GUSI Fellowships Platform features a scalable software system designed to monitor and track performance, ensuring learners can effectively measure their progress.

GUSI understands the challenges faced by healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their ultrasound skills amid demanding schedules. GUSI addresses these concerns with flexible scheduling options, allowing learners to progress at their own pace while balancing their professional and personal commitments. This adaptability and virtual experience is crucial for fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development.

“I went from not being able to hold the probe to someone who can scan and diagnosing and finding pathologies. I worked with Dr. Milne-Price and she was amazing! She sharpened my skills and we did sessions of live scanning over Zoom. I feel confident in my skills now to scan on my own.”

Dr. Dalea Al-Hawarri
Faculty, Bryn Mawr Family Medicine Residency

As healthcare continues to evolve, the demand for proficient ultrasound practitioners has never been greater. GUSI is not only committed to providing exceptional education but also aims to inspire a new generation of healthcare professionals who can leverage POCUS to improve patient outcomes globally. Join us in this exciting journey towards excellence in ultrasound practice.

For more information on GUSI Fellowships and to start your journey toward ultrasound proficiency, visit https://globalultrasoundinstitute.com/.

About Global Ultrasound Institute:

Global Ultrasound Institute stands at the forefront of point-of-care ultrasound, providing wraparound education, training, AI, and administrative software tools to healthcare providers and health systems globally to lower barriers to POCUS adoption and implementation. GUSI has trained over 14,000 healthcare practitioners in over 60 countries. GUSI is working to create a better world in which every healthcare practitioner is empowered to offer a rapid, reliable, accurate ultrasound-enabled diagnosis directly at the point-of-care, for any patient, anywhere.

For more information about GUSI Fellowships or any of GUSI services, please visit https://globalultrasoundinstitute.com/

Contact:

Dr. Kevin Bergman, Co-Founder, co-CEO, Global Ultrasound Institute
Dr. Mena Ramos, Co-Founder, co-CEO, Global Ultrasound Institute

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SOURCE GLOBAL ULTRASOUND INSTITUTE

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