EcoGraf Limited: US Patent Allowed - Technology Complies with US Treasury IRA Guidance on New Clean Vehicle Credit Criteria
EcoGraf Limited ("EcoGraf" or the "Company") (ASX: EGR; FSE: FMK; OTCQX: ECGFF) is pleased to announce that it has received notice from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that its patent application, filed on 1 November 2022, entitled "Method of Producing Purified Graphite" (US application number 17/626,425) has been examined and received a 'Notice of Allowance' in the US. The US patent will issue shortly following payment of the issue fee. This is a very important step in the proposed commercialisation of EcoGraf HFfree™ technology, providing protection in the US of the patented methodology until about November 2042. The commercialisation of the technology will also comply with US Treasury IRA guidance on new clean vehicle credit criteria to strengthen critical mineral supply chains.
The method is positioned to be an alternative purification technology for the manufacturer of battery anode material used in lithium-ion batteries, the patent also protects the use of the technology in Lithium-ion battery anode recycling.
Battery recycling is now recognised as an important part of transition to clean energy with increasing requirements in EU and US to achieve greater recycling.
EcoGraf's HFfree™ purification technology was developed by the Company in Australia in 2017 and has since been refined through extensive testing and analysis conducted in Australia, Europe and Asia. Patents and trademarks have been lodged by EcoGraf in all key battery markets to protect the IP associated with this process.
Under its Patent Convention Treaty (PCT) filing, patent submissions have also been made in all key planned battery manufacturing hubs which include EU, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, East Africa, South Africa and Australia.
To ensure the full protection of its technology in the US, EcoGraf has also filed a continuation application based on its present US patent application.
EcoGraf's HFfree™ technology is an environmentally superior and cost-effective process for producing high quality battery anode material using natural flake graphite. The technology underpins vertically integrated battery anode development which the company is advancing the planned Product Qualification Facility (refer announcement September 2022) and working with groups to consider co-location of a commercial scale facilities in the global battery manufacturing hubs.
This announcement is authorised for release by Andrew Spinks, Managing Director.
For further information, please contact:
INVESTORS
Andrew Spinks
Managing Director
T: +61 8 6424 9002
About EcoGraf
EcoGraf is building a vertically integrated battery anode materials business to produce high purity graphite products for the lithium-ion battery and advanced manufacturing markets. Over US$30 million has been invested to date to create a highly attractive graphite mining and mineral processing business.
In Tanzania, the Company is developing the Duma TanzGraphite natural flake graphite business, commencing with the Epanko Graphite Project, to provide a long-term, scalable supply of feedstock for EcoGraf™ battery anode material processing facilities, together with high quality large flake graphite products for specialised industrial applications.
Using its environmentally superior EcoGraf HFfree™ purification technology, the Company will upgrade the flake graphite to produce 99.95%C high performance battery anode material to supply electric vehicle, battery and anode manufacturers in Asia, Europe and North America as the world transitions to clean, renewable energy.
Battery recycling is critical to improving supply chain sustainability and the Company's successful application of the EcoGraf™ purification process to recycle battery anode material provides it with a unique ability to support customers to reduce CO2 emissions and lower battery costs.
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