Great Lakes Graphite Enters Technology Partnership with Process Research ORTECH to Purify Natural Flake Graphite for Hi-Tech Applications

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 12, 2015) - Great Lakes Graphite Inc. ("Great Lakes", "GLK" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:GLK)(OTC PINK:GLKIF)(FRANKFURT:8GL) is pleased to announce that the Company has formed a technology partnership (the "Partnership") with Process Research ORTECH ("PRO"), of Mississauga, Ontario to commercialize its graphite purification process. PRO recently filed a Notice of Invention to protect the intellectual property that underpins the proprietary process of purifying flake graphite to 99.9%. The partnership agreement calls for Great Lakes Graphite and PRO to complete development work on the purification process, with a view towards hi-tech commercial applications.

The main objective of the partnership is to develop a purification process to achieve a graphite product of +99% purity. The proposed development program will consist of the following:

1. Chemical analysis and determination of impurities present

2. Physical beneficiation tests involving a combination of flotation and comminution to remove any gangue material adhered to the graphite flake and produce a high grade graphite concentrate

3. Chemical leaching with PRO's proprietary purification process to remove residual metal and oxide impurities to produce a high purity (+99%) graphite product

4. Chemical analysis and particle size analysis at selected points in the purification program

Beneficiation of graphite concentrate to a 99%-plus purity level is a requirement for use in lithium-ion batteries and for other high technology applications. For example, semiconductor technology demands constant innovation and ultra-high-purity materials from suppliers. Products made from high-purity fine-grain graphite meet these requirements. Development of materials for wafer production processes and coatings enhance the purity of the next semiconductor generation, while extending the service life of materials at the same time.

Existing methods for producing high purity levels typically involve energy-intensive processes that sometimes include the use of harsh chemical reagents. PRO's CEO Dr. V. I. "Lucky" Lakshmanan said, "We are very pleased to join Great Lakes Graphite in this partnership and look forward to working together on developing and deploying this technology."