Ann: Licensing Agreement for Downstream Purification Process, page-162

Directy from RNU's ann dated 28/03/2022 ......

Renascor’s purification process is based on previously existing and well documented mineral processing procedures in the public domain that use a caustic roast and an HF-free leaching process. Renascor believes these mineral processing procedures are not subject to patent protection. Renascor has adapted these procedures for the purpose of purifying its Siviour graphite to meet battery anode requirements.

Renascor’s caustic roast and HF-free leaching purification process permits the use of several alternative procedures that apply varying reagent regimes, retention times and other processing parameters to achieve the requirements of potential battery anode customers.

Renascor recently became aware of an application seeking patent protection over certain previously known and published procedures for purifying graphite[25]. In Renascor’s view, the pending patent application is overly broad and relates to processing procedures that are not novel or inventive to merit patent protection.

Renascor (as well as at least one other industry participant) has now opposed the pending patent application to protect and preserve its flexibility to use these processing procedures (or similar), should it wish to do so.

Reference [25] includes:

• Ge, P. et al., Preparation of high purity graphite by an alkaline roasting leaching method. New Carbon Materials. 2010: Vol. 25, No. 1;
• Tan, X. et al., Research on alkali-acid process of graphite purification. China Mining Magazine. 2015: Vol. 24, No. 10;
• Zhang, Q. et al., Baking kinetics for silicic impurity in purification process of aphanitic graphite. Journal of Central South University. 2005: Vol. 36, No. 1.