Westwater Resources (WWR) said Wednesday it received a US patent for its proprietary graphite purification method, which will be used at its Kellyton graphite processing plant in Alabama.

The process eliminates the need for hazardous hydrofluoric acid, commonly used in traditional methods overseas, and provides a more environmentally friendly way to produce high-purity, battery-grade natural graphite, the company said.

Westwater shares were up 3.2% in recent premarket activity.