Focus Graphite (TSX-V:FMS) has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US battery technology company Charge CCCV (C4V) to evaluate graphite concentrate from its Lac Knife Project in Québec.
The collaboration aims to establish an integrated pathway combining Lac Knife’s high-purity graphite concentrate with C4V’s automated green anode technology to produce finished coated spherical purified graphite for battery applications.
C4V’s technology converts natural graphite concentrate directly into finished anode material through a process designed to reduce water, energy, and chemical usage.
The technology requires natural graphite concentrate of approximately 98% carbon (C), a specification Lac Knife met through mechanical flotation during a recent eight-tonne pilot program that achieved grades up to 98.70% C without chemical or thermal purification.
Richard Pearce, technical adviser to Focus Graphite, says the quality of the graphite feedstock is the starting point of any successful anode manufacturing process.
“Higher-purity concentrate has the potential to reduce downstream processing requirements, improve manufacturing efficiency and enhance overall product consistency,” Pearce says.
“Lac Knife has demonstrated exceptional concentrate quality through conventional flotation, making it an outstanding candidate for evaluation within C4V’s green anode technology.”
C4V’s chief executive Shailesh Upreti says its green technology has already yielded positive results through an earlier natural-graphite development program that supported a commercial agreement with a prominent US EV and BESS (battery energy storage system) manufacturer.
“For years, the anode has been the weakest link in the battery supply chain, dependent on foreign processing and heavy chemistry to reach purity. Our green anode technology was built to change that,” Upreti says.
Focus CEO Dean Hanisch says C4V’s previous work has demonstrated the commercial interest that can emerge when high-quality natural graphite is successfully advanced into finished anode material.
“For Focus, the opportunity is to demonstrate that potential with Lac Knife,” Hanisch says.
Under the MoU, the parties will complete an evaluation program assessing processing performance, product consistency, and electrochemical characteristics. Graphite fines and other material streams from production may also be evaluated as conductive additives for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries.
Focus is also advancing a chemical-free electrothermal graphite purification process intended for battery, defence, nuclear, aerospace, and energy storage applications via up to US$14.1 million ($19.64 million) in non-repayable funding under Natural Resources Canada’s Global Partnerships Initiative.
Focus Graphite is developing graphite resources, advanced processing technologies and higher-value advanced materials to support battery, defence, advanced manufacturing and other strategic industries across North America and allied markets, with two graphite assets in Québec.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Focus Graphite
