A few billion tons of waste coal sit in impoundment sites across the Commonwealth. Scientists at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research have determined a use for that material.
The process sets about to use fine coal powder to make carbon fibers and industrial-grade graphite. One primary use would be in the construction of electric vehicle batteries. Matthew Weisenberger is associate director at CAER. Weisenberger said most of the graphite currently comes to the U.S. from China and there’s interest in seeing more produced locally.
