Overview of Scheelite Beneficiation Technologies

Scheelite, a critical strategic resource in China, requires optimized beneficiation processes due to its fine dissemination and complex association with gangue minerals (e.g., calcite, fluorite). Current mainstream processes focus on roughing and cleaning stages, evolving toward higher efficiency and precision.

1. Roughing Processes

The primary goal is to maximize recovery, with key methods including:

• Ambient-temperature Flotation: Suitable for coarse or      medium-grained scheelite. pH adjustment via lime (limestone method) or      sodium carbonate (soda ash method) achieves initial enrichment. The latter      is preferred for reducing metal ion interference.

• Hot Flotation (Petrov Process): Targets complex ores      (e.g., scheelite-fluorite type) by combining high temperature (80-90°C)      with sodium silicate to exploit collector desorption differences. While      efficient, its high energy consumption limits industrial adoption.

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2. Cleaning Processes

Aimed at improving concentrate grade:

• Ambient Cleaning: Multi-stage flotation with combined depressants      for scheelite-quartz ores, offering simplicity and low cost.

• Hot Cleaning: Enhances separation of fine-grained minerals      but requires energy-economic balance.

3. Advanced Technologies for Fine Particles

For ultrafine scheelite (-20 μm):

• Shear-flocculation Flotation: Induces particle      aggregation via high-speed agitation, increasing effective size.      Industrial trials show ~20% recovery improvement.

• Microbubble Flotation Columns: Utilize micron-sized      bubbles to enhance collision probability, proven effective in tailings      reprocessing.

4. Future Directions

Innovations will focus on:

• Process Integration: Combining pre-desliming and classification to      mitigate slime interference;

• Intelligent Equipment: Adopting flotation columns and high-efficiency      agitators for precision;

• Resource Synergy: Recovering associated minerals to promote      sustainable mining.

The advancement of scheelite beneficiation technologies is vital for enhancing resource utilization and securing industrial supply chains.