Spodumene Flotation Reagent Guide

Lithium is known as "the new energy metal of the 21st century". Today, the demand for lithium resources is still very strong. At present, lithium is mainly derived from lithium ore. The main lithium-containing minerals in lithium ore are spodumene, lepidolite, lithium-lithiumite, lithium-petalite and iron-lepidolite. Among them, spodumene is an important lithium mineral resource.

The flotation method is widely used in lithium ore, and the key point in flotation operation is reflected in the selection of flotation reagents. The commonly used spodumene is mainly collectors and regulators.

Spodumene flotation agent Collector

single collector

A single collector is mostly used for laboratory research. Spodumene ore flotation is currently divided into two processes: reverse flotation cationic collectors and positive flotation anion collectors. The common reverse flotation cationic collectors are amines Collectors, such as dodecylamine, are commonly used.

This kind of agent can reverse flotation in acidic pulp to extract gangue minerals such as quartz and mica. This method is mainly suitable for roughing operations, but it is not widely used. The anion collectors of traditional positive flotation spodumene ore are mostly fatty acid and soap collectors, such as oleic acid, sodium oleate, naphthenic acid soap, oxidized paraffin wax soap, etc. The advantages of this type of collector are wide range of use, low price, and strong collection capacity. The disadvantages are poor selectivity, sensitivity to temperature, intolerance to hard water, and significant fluctuations in beneficiation indicators.

Combined collector

The use of combined collectors can usually exert the synergistic effect of multiple agents to obtain ideal flotation separation indicators. A domestic spodumene ore was treated with sodium oleate + oxidized paraffin soap as a combined collector, and a spodumene concentrate with a Li 2 O grade of 6% and an operational recovery rate of 62% was obtained. In the case of oxidized paraffin soap + oxalic acid as a combined collector, the ore with a Li2O grade of 1.25% was subjected to flotation to obtain a concentrate with a Li2O grade of 6.21% and a recovery rate of 76.30%. The use of combined collectors can significantly improve the mineral flotation separation effect, reduce the dosage of chemicals, and thus significantly improve the economic benefits of the enterprise.

new collector

In recent years, new high-efficiency collectors for spodumene flotation have emerged. Most of the high-efficiency collectors for spodumene flotation developed at present are chelating collectors. Although they have the characteristics of good selectivity and excellent performance, they are generally expensive and difficult to promote in actual production and application.

Spodumene floating selection regulator

Spodumene ore flotation regulators are mainly "three alkalis", namely Na2CO3, NaOH, Na2S and CaCl2.

Activation effect of regulators and metal ions: Hydroxyl complexes formed by metal ions under neutral or weakly alkaline conditions have high adsorption properties, which can greatly improve the ability to collect minerals, thereby improving the flotation effect.

Spodumene flotation agent test

The role of regulators and traditional inhibitors: when alkaline regulators such as calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide are added, the slurry composed of silicate minerals in the pulp will react with alkali to form a certain amount of sodium silicate , which itself is an inorganic depressant, has the same effect on flotation as the addition of traditional depressants, so no deliberate addition of inorganic depressants in flotation practice.

Effects of regulators and new inhibitors: Among the new inhibitors, citric acid and lactic acid have weaker selectivity to the inhibition of spodumene and beryl, tartaric acid and oxalic acid have strong inhibitory effects on the two minerals, but have no selectivity, Na2S, Sodium hexametaphosphate and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate have both strong inhibition and strong selectivity, among which disodium edetate has better selective inhibition on spodumene.

At present, the important reason why the development of lithium resources is hindered is that the flotation and separation of spodumene ore is difficult. According to the properties and characteristics of the ore, green and environmentally friendly new agents and high-efficiency combination agents are developed to create favorable conditions for the flotation and separation of spodumene and gangue minerals. It is an important direction for the progress of spodumene ore flotation technology