Zentek unit achieves nuclear-grade graphite purification milestone

Zentek Ltd. (NASDAQ: ZTEK) (TSXV: ZEN) announced that its subsidiary Albany Graphite Corp. successfully purified a second batch of graphite to ultra-high 5N purity levels of 99.9992% carbon content. The purification was conducted in collaboration with American Energy Technologies Company using an electrothermal Fluidized Bed Reactor process at 2,800°C.

The purified material achieved an Equivalent Boron Concentration of 2.60 parts per million, below the 3 ppm specification required by the nuclear industry. The company stated this represents the second successful batch processed to nuclear-grade purity standards, indicating potential reproducibility of results.

The thermal purification process was conducted at AETC's Wheeling, Illinois facility without using halogen gases, under an inert gas atmosphere. The EBC calculation followed ASTM C1233-15 standards and was customized based on current nuclear plant specifications.

Albany Graphite Corp. plans additional testing including particle size distribution, compressibility, resistivity, and coefficient of friction measurements. The company will also produce near-net-shaped graphite bricks using a mixture of synthetic graphite, Albany graphite, and coal-tar pitch for reactor lining applications.

AETC will conduct lithium-ion battery suitability testing involving spheroidization, coating, and coin cell tests to evaluate Albany graphite's performance as anode material. The company will also test spheroidization fines as a cathode conductivity additive.

The Albany Graphite Project is located in Ontario, northwest of Constance Lake First Nation and Hearst, within 30 kilometers of the Trans-Canada Highway. The project has access to established infrastructure including roads, rail, power transmission lines, and a natural gas pipeline.

The testing activities are funded through Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund grant program, which supports mining industry research and development for critical minerals supply chain technologies.

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