ASX-listed Renascor Resources has started processing graphite through its hydrofluoric acid- (HF-) free purification flowsheet using reagents at the Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) demonstration plant, in Adelaide, South Australia.

The introduction of graphite and reagents into the integrated purification flowsheet marks the start of graphite processing under operating conditions at the demonstration plant.

These activities are intended to demonstrate the ability to produce battery-grade graphite using Renascor’s HF-free purification process, which is designed to achieve the purity requirements for lithium-ion battery anodes without the use of HF while supporting a more environmentally sustainable and cost-competitive purification pathway.

The campaign will also support the generation of qualification samples for prospective customers.

All major process systems have now operated with graphite at target operating parameters, Renascor confirms, with processing activities advancing through the integrated purification flowsheet, including the introduction of reagents in the operation of the caustic bake circuit.

Activities are progressing in line with schedule, with the current phase focused on validating operation of the integrated purification flowsheet under operating conditions. This phase is expected to continue into the next quarter before larger operating runs aimed at generating optimised operating data and larger-scale qualification samples for prospective customers.

Renascor's PSG demonstration plant is a key component of the company's strategy to establish an integrated Australian mine-to-PSG operation based on graphite from the company's wholly-owned Siviour graphite deposit in South Australia.

The demonstration plant, which was built with support from a $5-million grant under Australia's International Partnerships in Critical Minerals Programme, is a large-scale integrated processing facility designed to continuously process graphite to produce tonne-scale quantities of battery-grade material.

The facility is intended to validate the operation of Renascor's HF-free purification process at demonstration scale and generate the operating data, cost validation and qualification material required to support commercial-scale downstream development.

Renascor MD David Christensen believes the HF-free purification process to have the potential to provide a commercially competitive and more environment-friendly alternative to conventional purification methods through lower reagent consumption, reagent recycling and reduced environmental handling requirements.