MLS chart, page-275

Some facts about what it takes to develop battery grade graphite. From what i can see if this is only initial sampling, we're not far off having battery grade.

• Spherical graphite is produced through fine grinding, purification and spheritisation – processing the flat flake into a sphere of concentrate
• Purification is generally conducted via an acid wash treatment which takes a raw material of approximately 94% TGC to over 99% TGC purity
• Purified product is milled to reach an average commercial size of between 10 and 20 microns, with the ultimate objective of maximising the surface area of the material. Flake graphite can be spheritised to as low as 5 microns
• Uncoated spherical graphite material is usually sold onto processing or trading companies who then add their own specialised coating material to aid conductivity in the battery. This is most commonly a carbon coating of some form that is applied using a chemical vapour method.
• Production of uncoated spherical graphite is generally wasteful, with producers today achieving an average yield of 30-40% on initial flake concentrate inputs
• The only application for spherical graphite is as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, with the majority of consumers being situated in either China, Japan or South Korea
• To become “battery-grade”, spherical graphite must achieve a minimum of 99.95% TGC following purification • Price is dependent on purity and particle shape / size