International Graphite Ltd (ASX:IG6) has confirmed that graphite from its flagship Springdale Project is well suited for lithium-ion battery anode manufacturing with purification test work achieving results of 99.96-99.97% loss on ignition (LOI), exceeding battery industry standards of 99.95%
The testing was conducted on an uncoated purified sample of Springdale graphite concentrate, using a chemical non-hydrofluoric acid (HF) method.
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Test work to arrive at this major milestone was conducted by industry specialists ProGraphite GmbH, which was involved in the graphite concentrate micronising, spheroidising and purification test program and supervised subsequent electrochemical test work by a specialist graphite battery testing group.
Results inform battery anode facilities
“The purification results demonstrate the potential for an optimised and simplified purification process to be used as an alternative to the traditional industry standard HF method,” International Graphite technical director David Pass said.
“The electrochemical results are highly encouraging as a first phase sighter test program.
“These results will inform the optimisation of micronisation, spheroidisation and purification test work and flowsheet development for our planned battery anode facilities.
“To do that, we will be using about 115 kilograms of Springdale graphite concentrate that was produced by the bulk concentrate test work program undertaken in the second half of 2023.”
Electrochemical test work on an uncoated purified sample of Springdale graphite concentrate achieved near theoretical-specific capacity for a graphite anode in lithium-ion batteries of 372 mAh/g.
Battery stress testing over 46 charging and discharging cycles demonstrated Springdale graphite concentrate has very high stability and durability, with the 46th cycle giving a reversible capacity of 368 mAh/g.
Overall, these results place IG6 in a strong position to pursue its ambition of creating a mine-to-market integrated graphite anode supply chain, from its massive Springdale Graphite Project to its micronising plant in Collie and beyond.