Methods and apparatus for production of electrochemical graphite

A method of producing graphite, comprising:

• preparing a molten salt bath;
• adding a crushed coal char and a graphite rod to the molten salt bath;
• applying an electrical potential between the coal char and the graphite rod;
• and electrolyzing the molten salt bath to thermally reduce the coal char to produce an electrochemical graphite deposit.

An electrolytic apparatus to produce graphite, comprising:

• a molten salt bath;
• an electrical source including a first conveyor and a second conveyor disposed proximal to the molten salt bath, wherein the electrical source produces a voltage potential between the first conveyor and the second conveyor;
• at least one coal char cathode contacting he first conveyor;
• at least one graphite anode contacting the second conveyor;
• an electrical tension roller contact bus configured to couple to the first conveyor and the second conveyor, wherein the electrical tension roller contact bus biases the at least one coal char cathode and at least one graphite anode to be suspended within the molten salt bath;
• and
• an electrolytic cell formed when the voltage is applied to the at least one coal char cathode and the at least one graphite anode to thermally reduce the coal char to produce an electrochemical graphite deposit, wherein the at least one graphite anode includes graphite continuously supplied to reduce the at least one coal char cathode and form a graphite deposit from the coal char cathode.