A local research team has developed a way to recycle oil residue into synthetic graphite.<br />It's expected the new technology will lead to an improvement in a number of domestic businesses, including electric vehicles, in the near future.<br />Cho Sung-min reports. <br /> The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology announced that it recently developed a technology that can produce synthetic graphite out of petroleum waste.<br />Synthetic graphite is considered to be one of the most useful resources in manufacturing electronic products and appliances,...since it boasts a high conductivity rate for heat and electricity.<br />They are essential in making anode materials, which go into smartphones, computer parts, and electric vehicles.<br /><br /> The team says the technology works,...because it found a way to produce petroleum pitch. <br />Pitch is made with oil grease that is left behind after crude oil gets refined into petrol or diesel oil.<br />Making pitch requires highly-advanced technology,...and until now, most nations including Korea, had all relied on imports from the U.S., Japan, and Germany.<br />Among them, Korea has been one of the biggest importers of pitch and anode materials. <br />With this new technology, however, researchers say Korea has become self-sufficient and won't need to import the resource any more.<br /><br />"Pitch is an irreplaceable resource when making graphite and carbon fiber. It melts under high heat and can transform anything into powder." <br /><br /> Researchers also said the new technology will bring down cost of products that use anode materials...and will contribute in improving the domestic electric car industry,...which heavily relies on graphite.<br />Cho Sung-min, Arirang News. <br />
