A photo from February shows progress during Phase I of the Kellyton Graphite Plant construction, with the completion of structural steel and dust collectors, as well as installation of piping and controls being underway.
Special to the News
Westwater Resources Inc., an energy technology and critical minerals company focused on developing battery-grade natural graphite, has received U.S. Patent Number 12,415,731 for innovative graphite purification methods.
This patent, awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is a significant milestone in Westwater’s technological advancement and reinforces the company’s dedication to sustainable, domestic graphite production.
“We’re proud to reach this milestone after five years of the patenting process with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,” said Terence Cryan, executive chair and chair of the Board of Westwater Resources. “This patent protects our environmentally-friendly purification technology and underscores Westwater’s leadership as the most advanced, U.S.-based producer of battery-grade natural graphite. We are dedicated to helping supply the critical minerals that the U.S. needs to support energy independence.”
In August 2020, Westwater Resources filed its first patent application for the proprietary method of graphite purification to be employed at the Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant.
This innovative process offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional purification techniques often used in China and other countries.
Unlike conventional methods that frequently rely on hydrofluoric acid, Kellyton’s Phase 1 process completely avoids the use of this hazardous substance. Instead, Westwater’s patented process relies on a more environmentally-friendly approach to produce high-purity graphite, positioning the company as a leader in sustainable production of battery-grade natural graphite.
About Westwater Resources Inc.
Westwater Resources is an energy technology and critical minerals company that is focused on developing battery-grade natural graphite. Westwater Resources’ primary project is the Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant that is under construction in east-central Alabama in the industrial park near Kellyton in Coosa County. In addition, Westwater Resources’ Coosa Graphite Deposit is the largest and most advanced natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous United States and is located across 41,965 acres (approximately 17,000 hectares) in Coosa County. For more information, visit westwaterresources.net.
