(19)

(11)

EP 1 675 917 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 09.03.2006 (43) Date of publication: 05.07.2006 Bulletin 2006/27 (21) Application number: 04783920.4 (22) Date of filing: 10.09.2004

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C09C 1/56(1968.09) C01B 31/04(1968.09) C09C 1/46(1968.09) (86) International application number: PCT/US2004/029881 (87) International publication number: WO 2005/028569 (31.03.2005 Gazette 2005/13)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL HR LT LV MK (30) Priority: 18.09.2003 US 666048 25.02.2004 US 786690 (71) Applicants: COLUMBIAN CHEMICALS COMPANY Marietta, GA 30062 (US) SUPERIOR GRAPHITE CO. Chicago Illinois 60606 (US)

(72) Inventors: AYALA, Jorge, Armando Kennesaw, Georgia 30144 (US) WANG, Weidong Marietta, Georgia 30066 (US) EDWARDS, Charles Roswell, Georgia 30075 (US) HERD, Charles, R. Woodstock, Georgia 30188 (US) LAMBA, Rakshit Acworth, Georgia 30101 (US) TANDON, Deepak Kennesaw, GA 30144 (US) TAYLOR, Rodney, I. Acworth, GA 30101 (US) ZAK, Mark, S. Norwalk, CT 06850 (US) BARSUKOV, Igor, V. Glenview, IL 60025 (US) DONINGER, Joseph, E. Lake Forest, IL 60045 (US) BOOTH, Peter, R. Geneva, IL 60134 (US) (74) Representative: Harrison Goddard Foote  Belgrave Hall Belgrave Street Leeds LS2 8DD Leeds LS2 8DD (GB)