evaluate the potential to reduce the level of reagent used in the EcoGraf(TM) process, which will deliver operational
efficiency benefits for the new facility."
A key design of the new EcoGraf(TM) Battery Anode Material Facility is an on-site water treatment and wastewater
recycling plant to enable 75% of water to be re-used in the operation. Process water is planned to be sourced from a
nearby wastewater facility, providing a low-cost source of water for operational requirements and the opportunity to
assist the Kwinana-Rockingham region recycle this water resource. Data provided by the locked-cycle program and
associated water analysis is being used by EcoGraf to maximise water recycling within the operation, leading to lower
production costs.
Appointment of Key Executives
EcoGraf has appointed experienced executives Mr Michael Chan and Mr Shaun O'Neill to key positions with the Company to
drive the successful construction and operation of the new Battery Anode Material Facility.
Mr Chan is a qualified metallurgical engineer and has been appointed to the position of Executive Manager - Product
Development with responsibility for process flowsheet design, product testing and development, new product innovation
and product marketing.
During his career Michael has been extensively involved in battery anode material developments and has completed major
project development programs, process flowsheet designs, pilot plant operations and product development activities. He
has also managed significant downstream development programs with a range of end-users, including the application of
anode coatings technologies.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Minerals Engineering from the University of Birmingham, England and is a
Chartered Engineer (Council of Engineering Institution, London).
Mr O'Neill is a qualified metallurgist and has been appointed to the position of Executive Manager - Project
Development with responsibility for overall project management of the construction and commissioning of the new
operation in Western Australia.
Shaun has extensive experience in operations, project management and commissioning across a broad range of commodities,
including battery and critical minerals. He has been involved in a number of battery mineral developments, with both
construction and operational experience in the Kwinana-Rockingham Industrial Area, where he was the Project Manager for
Tianqi Lithium's lithium hydroxide processing plant and has also worked at the BHP Billiton Nickel West Refinery.
These appointments significantly strengthen the Company's management team as it completes the technical programs with
GR Engineering to finalise arrangements for construction of the new facility.
Product Development and Sales
Product testing is continuing with anode and battery manufacturers as part of on-going discussions relating to sales
arrangements and technical collaboration. Product samples generated from the pre-construction early works program
conducted by GR Engineering are being provided to prospective customers for detailed analysis and battery performance
testing.
Assessment activities by potential customers involve the evaluation of detailed information about EcoGraf(TM)
production processes, operational efficiencies, HFfree process sustainability advantages (including CO[2] life cycle
analysis), EcoGraf(TM) recycling capabilities and development timing.
In addition to the market development programs for the core battery anode material products, the Company is also in
discussion with a number of prospective customers in industrial markets for the fines bi-products, which will comprise
approximately 35% of total output.
As part of the Company's research and innovation strategy, new product development programs have been initiated to
evaluate the future production of value-added lithium-ion battery and industrial graphite products from the new EcoGraf
(TM) Battery Anode Material Facility. These new opportunities (which include product diversification and downstream
processing) will be progressed in parallel with the construction program. Discussions have commenced with various third
parties in relation to potential collaboration on this product development.
Intellectual Property
On 14 May 2021 the Company filed international patent PCT/AU2021/050453 to replace the provisional patent application
(ref: 2020901589) relating to the EcoGraf(TM) HFfree purification process technology and the EcoGraf(TM) carbon anode
recycling process. The international patent application preserves the priority date claimed in the provisional patent
registration.
The patent submission supports the Company's EcoGraf(TM) product trademarks that have been registered in all key
markets.
European Battery Anode Material Facility
Following an approach from another European country, there are three potential locations under evaluation for the
development of an EcoGraf(TM) Battery Anode Material Facility in Europe. All of the sites are in established industrial
centres with excellent access to major battery manufacturers, skilled labour, infrastructure, green power and process
reagents.
Discussions are continuing with Government trade and investment departments, battery manufacturers and local
municipalities to assess these alternative locations. Government trade and investment agencies are also providing
EcoGraf with introductions to potential EU customers and development partners.
Establishment of a European facility is expected to include battery anode recycling activities to support customers in
achieving battery re-purposing and re-use commitments under EU climate change legislation.
ECOGRAF(TM) LITHIUM-ION BATTERY RECYCLING BUSINESS
EcoGraf's recycling activities are part of the Company's diversified graphite business to provide a sustainably
produced, high quality and cost competitive battery anode material through the initial EcoGraf(TM) Battery Anode
Material Facility planned in Western Australia and the development of its long-life and low cost Epanko Graphite
Project in Tanzania.
The Company plans to recover and re-use carbon anode materials from two feedstock material streams:
- Production scrap or waste from anode cell and battery manufacturing processes; and
- Residual carbon materials that remain after metals have been extracted through hydrometallurgical processing of
end-of-life batteries.
An overview of the lithium-ion battery recycling process is shown below.
Collaboration with SungEel Hitech
EcoGraf has entered into an agreement with SungEel HiTech (SungEel) to evaluate the recovery of carbon anode material
from battery materials produced at SungEel's South Korean recycling plant using the EcoGraf(TM) HFfree purification
process. The objective is to include a tailored EcoGraf(TM) recycling process in SungEel's proposed recycling plants in
Europe and South Korea.
Under the SungEel collaboration program, the parties are conducting joint product testing and market development
activities for recycled battery anode material and SungEel is evaluating potential co-investment in a modular EcoGraf
(TM) recycling pilot plant designed by GR Engineering.
The collaboration with SungEel on recycling will support the creation of closed loop manufacturing processes across the
battery supply chain to improve environmental performance and operational efficiency as follows:
SungEel is a major lithium-ion battery recycling company and is well connected to the South Korean lithium-ion battery
supply chain, which includes both electric vehicle and battery manufacturers. It currently processes 24,000 tonnes of
lithium-ion battery materials per year in South Korea, with plans to increase its capacity to 56,000 tonnes per year.
On 27 July 2021 the Company reported the results of recent recycling testing with SungEel that successfully achieved
99.98% carbon, whilst retaining the original physical characteristics of the anode material sample (refer ASX
announcement Recycled Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Material Achieves 99.98%C). The product quality results are consistent
with major lithium-ion battery manufacturer specifications and are shown below:
Physical Values
d10 7.7 micron
d50 15.9 micron
d90 29.1 micron
Tap Density 0.99+/-0.01 g/mL
Chemical properties
Carbon Content (LOI) 99.98%
Al <5 ppm
Ca <15 ppm
Cr <1 ppm
Cu <15 ppm
Fe <10 ppm
Ni <5 ppm
S <10 ppm
Si <10 ppm The anode production sample used in the recycling testing is representative of production anode scrap materials from lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing processes. Battery manufacturers currently generate several thousand tonnes of this material each year and the volume is expected to increase significantly with the global transition to electric vehicles.
SungEel will submit the purified recycled product to a South Korean lithium-ion battery manufacturer for battery cell tests and evaluation, to assess the potential to recycle this material back into the lithium-ion battery supply chain.
Modular Recycling Pilot Plant
GR Engineering has completed initial engineering designs for a modular carbon anode recycling pilot plant that will be used to optimise the recycling process and provide recovered carbon anode material for prospective customer product qualification processes.
The pilot plant will evaluate the recovery of lithium-ion battery carbon anode material from a range of hydrometallurgical processes and from in-process production waste, enabling the Company to develop tailored solutions for specific customer requirements. The engineering design has utilised recently completed locked-cycle testwork to optimise the plant and equipment sizing. The Company expects to receive a final report shortly.
ECOGRAF(TM) NATURAL FLAKE GRAPHITE BUSINESS
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