How are beryl and spodumene separated?

Beryl and spodumene are both minerals that contain lithium, but their physical and chemical properties are different. Therefore, they can be separated by a combination of physical and chemical methods. The following are some commonly used methods for separating beryl and spodumene:

Gravity separation: Beryl and spodumene have different densities, and gravity separation can be used to separate them. For example, heavy media separation and spiral chute separation can be used to separate beryl and spodumene.

Flotation: Beryl and spodumene have different surface properties, and flotation can be used to separate them. Generally, fatty acid collectors are used to float spodumene, while beryl can be depressed with sodium silicate or other depressants.

Magnetic separation: Beryl and spodumene have different magnetic properties, and magnetic separation can be used to separate them. For example, high-intensity magnetic separation can be used to separate spodumene, while beryl is non-magnetic.

Acid leaching: Beryl and spodumene can be dissolved in different acids due to their different chemical properties. For example, beryl can be dissolved in sulfuric acid, while spodumene can be dissolved in hydrofluoric acid. Therefore, acid leaching can be used to separate them.

Alkali roasting: Beryl and spodumene have different thermal stabilities, and alkali roasting can be used to separate them. For example, spodumene can be converted into water-soluble lithium compounds by alkali roasting, while beryl is relatively stable.

In practice, a combination of the above methods may be used to achieve better separation efficiency and product quality.