Experimental Study And Mechanism Of Composite Collectors In Lithiumite Flotation

Lithium plays a big role in the national economy and defense construction. Limited to technology and geographic distribution, lithium is mainly extracted from lithium ore, then the brine. Spodumene is the main development object of lithium ore, and it is mainly recovered by flotation. With the trend of leaner, finer and more complex, the selectivity and collecting property of single collector is poor, which limited the dressing development of spodumene. The systematically research of combined collectors on spodumene flotation behavior is important for the development of spodumene processing. Processing a lithium beryllium ore in Sichuan province was studied in this paper. The flotation research of pure minerals include spodumene and gangue (quartz, feldspar, fine gangue slime) and its mechanisms through a series advanced measures like EDLVO theory, chemical analysis and system were discussed, and the the difference of crystal structure and floatability mechanism about pure minerals were also investigated in this paper:1. By using sodium hydroxide on pulp conditioning, combined collectors have higher flotation efficiency than single collector in the flotation of spodumene in the erange of pH value.2. By using Na2CO3on pulp conditioning, with the increase dosage of Na2CO3, the yield of Spodumene is gradually decreased. Results of flotation solution chemistry analysis show that:HCO3’is the main component which affects the flotation of Spodumene.3. Lithium ore can be activated by adding reasonable regulator, and the flotation efficiency of spodumene can be improved. Flotation solution chemistry analysis’ results show that Ca2+is the main component which actived the Spodumene in alkaline conditions, and calcium chloride is an efficient activator in flotation of spodumene.4. The mixed ore test show that the collecting property improved in spodumene flotation by the application of combined collectors than single collector.5. Research of the structure and floatability on quartz, feldspars and spodumene shows that the research of new high selective collector and combined collectors is imperative.6. Potentiodynamic results show that:the properities of Spodumene, quartz and feldspar are similar and separation with these minerals is very difficult.7. EDLVO theory indicates that as size fraction influence of spodumene flotation is obvious, controlling the size of feed particle to improve the recovery rate of spodumene is important.8. Infrared spectroscopy analysis’results show that the adsorption of combined reagents on the surface of spodumene was obviously than single reagent and a positive synergistic effect is revealed.The actual mineral flotation tests show that with grinding fineness of-0.075mm74.26%,1500g/t Na2CO3,1000g/t NaOH,100g/t CaCl2,420g/t combined reagents, by the process of "pre-desliming-flotation", the concentrate assaying5.95%Li2O at the recovery of87.76%was obtained which agreed with the experiments of single mineral.