Battery anode testing a success at Graphite Bull

Electrochemical work has demonstrated the suitability of graphite from Buxton Resources (ASX:BUX) Graphite Bull project in feed for lithium-ion battery anode manufacture.

Since April 2023, graphite industry specialist ProGraphite in Germany has been managing mid and downstream testwork on Graphite Bull concentrate.

Final results confirm that the uncoated purified spherical graphite (uPSG) made from the Graphite Bull concentrate is suitable for manufacture of lithium-ion battery anodes, yielding above average to good performance characteristics.

Work involved constructing an anode and lithium-ion battery from Graphite Bull uPSG with subsequent electrochemical testwork including multiple charging and discharge tests to determine electrical capacity and durability characteristics.

This marks a major milestone for Graphite Bull after 14 months of metallurgical work with high-grade concentrate, demonstrated resource upside and ease of micronizing and shperonising achieved.

Buxton chief executive Marty Moloney commented on the work.

“Graphite Bull continues to over-deliver at every turn. Buxton is delighted to have a critical battery mineral project of this calibre in our portfolio,” he said.

“We also note UBS’s recent comments about the likelihood of a two-tier pricing structure for graphite from 2025, suggesting a premium for battery quality graphite products and recognising coming realities for the global battery anode industry.”

A second bulk concentrate sample is currently being evaluated by Dorfner Anzaplan, which is also in Germany, with results expected progressively from May.