Impact of water recycling on spodumene losses during the mica flotation stage in lithium ore beneficiation

IF 5 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Minerals Engineering Pub Date : 2025-09-11 DOI:10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109773

Antonio Di Feo , Maziar E. Sauber , Baian Almusned , Brian Hart , Tassos Grammatikopoulos

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Abstract

This study investigates the impact of recycled process water on spodumene losses during the mica flotation stage in lithium ore beneficiation. Flotation experiments, complemented by comprehensive mineralogical characterization and surface chemistry analyses, revealed significant spodumene losses to the mica rougher-scavenger concentrates under recycled water conditions. Surface chemistry analysis indicated enhanced adsorption of the collector (ARMAC-T) onto spodumene surfaces, driven by elevated levels of total organic carbon (TOC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and specific ionic species, particularly aluminum and iron. Mechanistic interpretations suggest that recycled water conditions promote undesired interactions between the collector and spodumene surfaces, negatively affecting mica flotation selectivity and consequently causing substantial lithium losses. Operational recommendations are proposed to reduce spodumene recovery, thereby enhancing overall lithium recovery.

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锂矿选矿云母浮选阶段水循环对锂辉石损失的影响

研究了锂矿选矿云母浮选过程中回用工艺水对锂辉石损失的影响。浮选实验、综合矿物学表征和表面化学分析表明，在循环水条件下，云母粗清除剂精矿中锂辉石损失显著。表面化学分析表明，在总有机碳（TOC）、总溶解固体（TDS）和特定离子（特别是铝和铁）含量升高的驱动下，捕收剂（ARMAC-T）在锂辉石表面的吸附增强。机理解释表明，再生水条件促进了捕收剂和锂辉石表面之间的不良相互作用，对云母浮选选择性产生负面影响，从而导致大量锂损失。提出了降低锂辉石回收率的操作建议，从而提高锂的整体回收率。

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来源期刊

Minerals Engineering 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

8.70

自引率

18.80%

发文量

519

审稿时长

81 days

期刊介绍： The purpose of the journal is to provide for the rapid publication of topical papers featuring the latest developments in the allied fields of mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Its wide ranging coverage of research and practical (operating) topics includes physical separation methods, such as comminution, flotation concentration and dewatering, chemical methods such as bio-, hydro-, and electro-metallurgy, analytical techniques, process control, simulation and instrumentation, and mineralogical aspects of processing. Environmental issues, particularly those pertaining to sustainable development, will also be strongly covered.