Grant for battery research

Perth company Hitec Energy has been offered an Australian Government R&D start grant for a mineral extraction process that produces the key ingredient for alkaline batteries in a more cost-effective way.

The grant will enable a permanent pilot plant to be set up for testing and the completion of a stability research study on the solvent extraction system that will be used in producing high-quality electrolytic manganese dioxide.

The process adds value to manganese waste products which are now disposed of in tailing dams. It also eliminates the roasting of high value manganese fines, which means fewer greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and no water soluble manganese waste compounds would be consigned to tailings dams.

Hitec plans to export the manganese dioxide to battery makers and may also license the technology overseas.