Proactive’s Tylah Tully breaks down ‘Just the Facts’ of the latest news from NGX Limited.
NGX has successfully produced additional spherical graphite (SG) from previously rejected fines material, converting low-value waste into high-value precursor anode material.
This advancement, achieved in collaboration with international technology partners, has the potential to improve production yields beyond industry standards and enhance project economics.
The development is part of NGX’s anode material program, focused on pre-qualifying anode material from natural flake graphite at the Malingunde Graphite Project in Malawi.
By repurposing fines typically discarded during the spheronisation process, the company aims to increase sustainability and production efficiency.
Initial test results confirm that the SG produced meets industry benchmarks, with a D50 of 16.7 microns, a tap density of 0.985, and a BET-specific surface area of 7.3 m²/g, achieving a 43% yield.
Further optimisation is underway to refine the material to a finer D50 of 10.7 microns, which is in high demand for fast-charging lithium-ion battery applications. Processing of fines has already improved overall yields by 24%.
The first batch of finer-sized SG samples has been sent for purification testing, with results expected later this quarter. NGX continues to refine its process to maximise yields and improve product performance.