A key antagonistic effect in alkaline pretreatment of clay-type lithium ores and its targeted control for enhanced lithium enrichment

IF 4.7 2区材料科学 Q2 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Particuology Pub Date : 2026-02-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-02 DOI:10.1016/j.partic.2025.12.013

Ziliang Liu, Fuzhong Wu, Xiaodong Lv, Xinyi Dai

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Abstract

Clay-type lithium ores represent a vast, underexploited resource critical for future lithium supply, but their complex mineralogy hinders efficient processing. While alkaline pretreatment is a promising enrichment strategy, its optimization is hampered by elusive regulatory mechanisms. Here, we report a critical non-monotonic response where excessive pretreatment intensity paradoxically suppresses lithium recovery. We identify and verify that this response is governed by a key antagonistic mechanism, termed the Alkali Residue Effect (ARE), where residual alkaline species cause both physical dilution and chemical neutralization. Through response surface methodology (RSM) targeting the mitigation of ARE, we established an optimized processing window that achieves a 4.35-fold lithium enrichment (Li₂O from 0.17 to 0.74 wt%). Microscopic analyses (SEM-EDS, XRD, XPS) confirm the optimized process selectively etches amorphous gangue, enhancing the reactivity of the Li-bearing mineral (cookeite). A techno-economic analysis projects a favorable operating cost of ∼US$81/ton. This study provides a new theoretical framework (ARE) for optimizing complex hydrometallurgical processes by balancing targeted reactions against unintended side effects.

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粘土型锂矿碱预处理的拮抗作用及其对锂富集的调控作用

粘土型锂矿石是一种巨大的未开发的资源，对未来的锂供应至关重要，但其复杂的矿物结构阻碍了有效的加工。虽然碱性预处理是一种很有前途的富集策略，但其优化受到难以捉摸的调控机制的阻碍。在这里，我们报告了一个关键的非单调响应，其中过度的预处理强度矛盾地抑制了锂的回收。我们确定并验证了这种反应是由一种关键的拮抗机制控制的，称为碱残留效应（ARE），其中残留的碱性物质导致物理稀释和化学中和。通过针对ARE的响应面法（RSM），我们建立了一个优化的处理窗口，实现了4.35倍的锂富集（Li2O从0.17 wt%增加到0.74 wt%）。微观分析（SEM-EDS， XRD， XPS）证实，优化后的工艺选择性地蚀刻无定形脉石，提高了含锂矿物（cookeite）的反应性。一项技术经济分析预测，有利的运营成本为每吨81美元。该研究为通过平衡目标反应和意外副作用来优化复杂的湿法冶金过程提供了一个新的理论框架。

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来源期刊

Particuology 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

6.70

自引率

2.90%

发文量

1730

审稿时长

32 days

期刊介绍： The word ‘particuology’ was coined to parallel the discipline for the science and technology of particles. Particuology is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes frontier research articles and critical reviews on the discovery, formulation and engineering of particulate materials, processes and systems. It especially welcomes contributions utilising advanced theoretical, modelling and measurement methods to enable the discovery and creation of new particulate materials, and the manufacturing of functional particulate-based products, such as sensors. Papers are handled by Thematic Editors who oversee contributions from specific subject fields. These fields are classified into: Particle Synthesis and Modification; Particle Characterization and Measurement; Granular Systems and Bulk Solids Technology; Fluidization and Particle-Fluid Systems; Aerosols; and Applications of Particle Technology. Key topics concerning the creation and processing of particulates include: -Modelling and simulation of particle formation, collective behaviour of particles and systems for particle production over a broad spectrum of length scales -Mining of experimental data for particle synthesis and surface properties to facilitate the creation of new materials and processes -Particle design and preparation including controlled response and sensing functionalities in formation, delivery systems and biological systems, etc. -Experimental and computational methods for visualization and analysis of particulate system. These topics are broadly relevant to the production of materials, pharmaceuticals and food, and to the conversion of energy resources to fuels and protection of the environment.