Technology

With research comes discoveries.

Through years of trial and error, the founders of graphite Quebec discovered a six stage air classification method for the liberation of graphite from the host rock. Sounds simple, but it’s not. Our technology is often duplicated, but never replicated. The graphite Quebec patent pending Air Classification system has been developed, redeveloped and used since 2009.

What’s the big deal? Graphite mining is about blasting the rocks, and crushing and grinding the material down so it can be run through wet flotation cells. The wet process is full of environmentally sensitive chemicals that create the need for tailing ponds that need to be monitored for many years due to the possibility of leaking into natural water ways. Now that’s a big deal and a massive problem.

graphite Quebec air classification systems don’t use flotation, therefore there are no water or tailing ponds. No water or tailing ponds means no environmental hazards or wastes. The system uses air flow and material dynamics to separate the heavier pieces from the lighter pieces, and the more aerodynamic from the non-aerodynamic. Graphite, being very light and aerodynamic, is the perfect material for air classification. It’s simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.