International Graphite reports positive results from purification testing of Springdale concentrate

International Graphite (ASX: IG6) has announced positive results from bench-scale micronising, spheroidising and purification test work on graphite concentrates generated from the Springdale project in Western Australia.

Testing was conducted by industry specialist ProGraphite GmbH using a 23-kilogram sample of 95.3% loss on ignition (LOI) grade concentrate to produce a purified spheroidised graphite product.

Purification used an acid-based process to achieve 99.99% LOI grade, which exceeds published industry benchmarks for anode materials.

Process circuit options

The tests investigated several process circuit options and resulted in two spheroidised graphite products – SpG18 and SpG11 – with a yield of up to 76% and D50 (50% diameter cutoff) product sizes of 18 microns and 11 microns, respectively.

The properties of both products are believed to have exceeded the quality and physical specifications typically required for active anode materials.

The purified sample material will be be used in future coating test work and to advance process flowsheet development and equipment selection for the production of active anode material for batteries.

Increasing yield

International Graphite technical director David Pass said testing was designed to optimise the project’s milling processes with the goal of improving product output.

“The results are highly encouraging and show there is significant potential to increase yield well beyond the projections in our original scoping study,” he said.

“The purification results have reinforced original findings that Springdale graphite can achieve the purity standards typically required by the industry for the production of active anode materials.”

Anode sector suitability

Managing director Andrew Worland said the test results represented a significant milestone for Springdale’s mine-to-market production strategy.

“This is further evidence that our wholly-owned Springdale mineral resource is perfectly suited to the high-growth lithium-ion battery anode sector,” he said.

“The unique operating expertise and intellectual property we are gaining from our research and development processing facilities in Collie is making a valuable contribution to the development of our downstream flowsheet and, coupled with further test work, is expected to advance our battery anode feasibility studies.”