Hi Holmesearth, I suspect there are a couple of technical...

Hi Holmesearth,

I suspect there are a couple of technical problems still to be addressed for HZR.
As far as I am aware, they have only claimed to produce graphite of ">90% C". Whether that really means 95%, I don't know, but there could be still a gap there.

The crystalline structure of the graphite produced from gas-phase methane on the surface of the iron ore catalyst is not clear. Are the flakes of a sufficient size to roll up into spheroids, as required for battery use? That means flakes of the order of 50-150 micron diameter. The electron micrographs I have seen of Hazer graphite did not give a clear indication of dimensions or flake characteristics.

If that is OK, then the iron oxide and silica in the catalyst must be removed before spheroidisation. Maybe the graphite can be detached from the catalyst surface, to allow flotation, but, at first sight, that appears unlikely. So they would then need to use acids all the way up - which would be an expensive exercise.

That one is probably best directed to the tech guys at Hazer, who, I am sure, are aware of the problem.

Cheers,

Prime1