[Lithium ore beneficiation] Introduction to two major spodumene flotation processes

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Spodumene is one of the main sources of lithium. It is produced in muscovite-type and lepidolite-type granitic pegmatites. It is a mineral that originated from the metasomatism process of pegmatite. It is often combined with lepidolite, beryl, Column-tantalite, tourmaline, muscovite, etc. are symbiotic, and they belong to the same silicate minerals as these gangue minerals. In terms of mineral processing methods, spodumene often uses flotation to purify lithium ore. Let's learn about it with the editorFlotation process method of spodumene.

1. Characteristics of spodumene flotation

Generally, as long as spodumene has industrial value, it can be sorted by flotation method, especially if it exists in fine-grained disseminated form of spodumene. When spodumene is flotated, the target mineral selection process can usually be completed by adding "three alkali and two soaps".

Three bases: Refers to sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) and sodium sulfide (Na₂S) are used as regulators for spodumene flotation, among which, Na₂CO ₃ and Na₂S are used to eliminate the influence of molten salt ions in the slurry; the highly alkaline medium formed by NaOH can scrub the surface of spodumene ore. Its dosage, adding location, and the concentration of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) in the water used during the separation process will all have an impact on spodumene flotation.

Two soaps: Refers to oxidized paraffin soap and naphthenic acid soap, which are used as collectors of spodumene and also have foaming properties. However, its dosage will change with the softness and hardness of the water. When the water quality is soft, naphthenic acid soap is not conducive to flotation. On the contrary, the flotation effect will be significantly increased.

2. Spodumene flotation process

Among the flotation methods, the commonly used flotation methods for spodumene include forward flotation, reverse flotation and combined flotation.

1. Positive flotation of spodumene

Positive flotation of spodumene is completed in an alkaline medium. Anionic collectors are often used to remove the ground minerals. Add it to a strong alkaline medium, carry out high-concentration and strong stirring operations, and treat the high-concentration slurry with sodium hydroxide to make the slurry come out under the action of alkalinity. After repeated scrubbing and desliming, fatty acids or soaps are added to collect the slurry. agent to directly flotate spodumene.

Because the added sodium hydroxide reacts with the silicate gangue minerals in the slurry and generates sodium silicate (water Glass) inhibitor activates the sulfur dioxide (SiO2) leached from the surface of the spodumene, while the activated cations (iron, calcium, copper, etc.) on the surface of the gangue mineral cause it to form insoluble compounds, which are then inhibited. Realize flotation of spodumene.

2. Spodumene reverse flotation

The spodumene reverse flotation process is also completed in an alkaline medium, mainly using lime, starch and dextrin as inhibitors Agent, send oil as a foaming agent. Under the condition of alkaline medium (pH value 10.5~11.0), dextrin regulator can effectively inhibit spodumene, and then use amine cationic collector to collect quartz, feldspar and mica. and other silicate gangue minerals to achieve reverse flotation.

Sometimes, in order to obtain qualified spodumene concentrate, products containing some iron substances will be concentrated before flotation. Then add hydrofluoric acid and fatty acid collector (resin acid soap) to flotate the spodumene concentrate.

3. Combined spodumene flotation method

If a single flotation method is difficult to obtain qualified spodumene concentrate from poor, fine and impure spodumene, It is necessary to use a combined flotation method. Currently, the commonly used methods are flotation-magnetic separation and flotation-magnetic separation-gravity separation.

Flotation-magnetic separation method: First, oxidized paraffin soap and naphthenic acid soap are used as combined collectors, NaOH is used as pH adjuster, and used in alkaline slurry The flotation process of one coarse and one fine is used to obtain spodumene, and then strong magnetic separation is used to remove iron to obtain spodumene concentrate with low iron content.

Flotation-magnetic separation-gravity separation method:After the ground material is slurried, it enters gravity separation In the first stage (removal of tantalum, niobium and other products), the gravity separation tailings are concentrated and deslimed by a thickener, and then slurried by adding oleic acid and oxidized paraffin, and the spodumene concentrate is floated under high alkalinity conditions, and then After strong magnetic separation, iron impurities are further removed for purification.

The above is an introduction to the commonly used flotation methods of spodumene. In addition, methods that can effectively recover spodumene also include: hand selection method, gravity separation method, magnetic separation method and thermal cracking method (thermal cracking method). crushing method) etc. In the actual mineral processing plant, the mineral processing method of spodumene should be determined according to the properties of its ore. Therefore, the editor recommends that a mineral processing test be conducted first, and based on the test results, a suitable mineral processing process can be scientifically and reasonably customized to avoid inappropriate The sorting process causes a waste of resources.