Utilizing Graphite Waste from the Acheson Furnace as Anode Material in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of graphite waste (GW) from the Acheson furnace as a sustainable and cost-effective anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Conventional anode materials face challenges such as energy-intensive production processes and reliance on virgin graphite resources, leading to high costs and environmental concerns. GW from the Acheson furnace, which already possesses high carbon purity (98.5%–99.9%) and crystallinity (93.5%), offers a promising alternative by eliminating the need for graphitization and extensive purification. Through spheronization and carbon coating, GW was successfully optimized to achieve electrochemical properties comparable to commercial anode materials (CAM), including an initial Coulombic efficiency of 85.1% and a specific capacity of 348.9 mAh/g. These findings suggest that GW from the Acheson furnace represents a viable pathway toward cost-effective and environmentally friendly LIB anodes.

Keywords

• graphite waste
• Acheson furnace
• spheronization
• carbon coating
• lithium-ion battery
• anode