Fossil-free graphite from biomass for greener process industries

Researchers at SwRI will use a plasma reactor to convert waste CO2 into solid carbon for a domestic graphite supply, reducing reliance on foreign imports. The team aims to produce graphite through a process that involves tuning the CO2 molecule to remove oxygen atoms and solidify into carbon allotropes.

Rice University researchers outline emerging solutions to make graphite production cleaner and more resilient, including synthetic graphite from renewable sources. The study emphasizes the critical role of graphite in energy storage technologies and the need for sustainable supply chain management.

Research suggests that the US can mine sufficient graphite to produce batteries for electric vehicles and stationary storage, but economic factors make it challenging. The country's supply of natural graphite exceeds demand projections, while synthetic graphite demand is expected to outpace supply.

Carbon did not migrate into the core, resulting in a graphite crust; silicon and sulphur are responsible for the core's low density. The graphite crust is approximately 40-120 meters thick and is composed of 1-3% carbon.

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a new catalytic graphitization technology to convert petroleum coke into graphite, reducing emissions and cost associated with conventional synthetic graphite production. The process uses lower temperatures and shorter times, making it more sustainable and efficient.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a more sustainable and economically competitive process to produce battery-quality graphite, with hydrogen generated as a valuable co-product. The new method uses molten metal catalysis to dehydrogenate ethane, producing high-quality graphite that is currently dominated by China.