Renascor Resources Limited (ASX: RNU) announced that its HF-free purification technology to purify graphite to battery grade was independently validated in Germany, producing purified graphite exceeding industry standards.
The company reported that the independent mineral processing trials of Renascor’s eco-friendly graphite purification technology undertaken by leading German battery mineral consultancy group Dorfner Anzaplan reported results up to 99.98% C versus the anode industry standard of 99.95% C.
RNU said that it intends to use its HF-free purification technology to create a competitive advantage in the production of high-quality Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) with leading ESG credentials in the first integrated in-country mine and battery anode material operation outside of China.
The company said that the results of the current purification trials will be used for detailed engineering design for the construction of Renascor’s planned Stage 1, 28,000tpa PSG manufacturing facility in South Australia, as well as to support on-going offtake and finance discussions.
HF-free purification technology
The company had completed over five years of mineral processing tests, leading Renascor to adapt a proven technique that avoids the use of hydrofluoric (HF) acid to create an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for purification of Renascor’s Siviour natural flake graphite for use in lithium-ion battery anodes.
Renascor’s HF-free purification technique was already used to produce Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) from Siviour Graphite Concentrates that exceeds anode industry quality specifications, including having achieved first stage qualification with two world-class anode company offtakers that account for up to two-thirds of Renascor’s stage one production.
Advanced mineral processing trials
Renascor announced that its purification process has now been independently validated in Germany. The company said that purification trials were undertaken by leading German battery mineral consultancy group Dorfner Analysenzentrum und Anlagenplanungsgesellschaft mbH (Dorfner Anzaplan), in collaboration with Renascor’s external engineering advisors Wave International.
Renascor said that its program with Dorfner Anzaplan was designed to utilise Renascor’s historical work and parameters for producing PSG from Siviour graphite concentrates, validate its suitability for producing battery-grade anode material and optimise its application for use at commercial scale.
Encouraging trial results
Renascor reported that the program, in its initial production trials, successfully produced high-purity, battery-grade PSG from Siviour graphite concentrates, with results up to 99.98% C, in excess of both the industry standard of 99.95% C and Renascor’s previous work, which produced 99.97% C PSG.
The company said that the subsequent trials will include tests designed to optimise the process to minimise reagent consumption and capital equipment costs.
Updates and next steps
Renascor announced that it intends to use its HF-free purification technology to create a competitive advantage in the production of high-quality PSG with leading environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials in the first integrated in-country mine and battery anode material operation outside of China.
The company said that the purification trials with Dorfner Anzaplan are expected to continue through March, with results to be used for detailed engineering design for construction of Renascor’s planned Stage 1, 28,000tpa PSG manufacturing facility in South Australia.
Management comments
Renascor Managing Director David Christensen said: “The Renascor technical team has invested over five years in understanding the mineralogical properties of the Siviour graphite deposit and developing and adapting an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective technology to purify Siviour graphite to meet the demanding requirements of lithium-ion battery anode manufacturers.
The results of these recent trials offer strong support that we can use our HF-free purification technology to create a competitive advantage in the production of high-quality Siviour PSG with leading ESG credentials in the first integrated in-country mine and battery anode material operation outside of China.
We expect the results of the trials with Dorfner Anzaplan will not only support detailed engineering design for the construction of our planned Stage 1, 28,000tpa PSG manufacturing facility in South Australia, but will also assist in offtake and finance discussions by underscoring Renascor’s commitment to environmental and social standards in delivering mine to market supply chain assurance.”