Evolution Energy Minerals has announced that is undertaking “a commercial verification program with an established US manufacturer of battery graphite product” to evaluate the amenability of the fines fraction of graphite from the company’s Chilalo graphite project for advanced battery applications.
Phil Hoskins, Managing Director of Evolution Energy, said detailed analysis of impurities in Chilalo’s 95% C flake graphite fines concentrate has identified extremely low levels of naturally occurring Molybdenum and Boron, opening the pathway to two value-added markets including premium performance batteries and nuclear-grade graphite.
“It is very pleasing that the exceptionally low Molybdenum and Boron content of Chilalo graphite opens two pathways for use of our graphite in value-added markets: a range of premium performance batteries, where extremely low concentrations of molybdenum are a prerequisite, and nuclear-grade graphite, which requires naturally low levels of boron,” he said.
“Our US technology partner will aim to use advanced technologies to build on this foundation, to size, shape, coat, and otherwise process our premium-quality flake graphite and turn them into battery and nuclear industry-ready graphite commanding premium prices.”
According to Evolution’s statement, battery anode testwork is ongoing, with further results expected in the coming weeks.
“The testwork will now assess the purification and milling and shaping processes to determine the purification levels and yields achievable into finished product, coated spherical graphite,”reads the statement.
“Thereafter, if successful, the program will incorporate the proprietary coating technology of the Company’s US technology partner and test the electrochemical properties (ie. performance in a battery), long term cycling (how it performs over time) and specific end use analysis.”
