XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 3173
or tailings, and the varying OA concentrations do not affect
the separation behavior.
Tromp function for 2-dimensional particle descriptor
vectors
Bivariate Tromp functions were computed for all particles
and exclusively for LiAlO2 and gehlenite particles as a result
of froth flotation tests. These functions provide insight into
the combined influence of particle size d
A and shape with
aspect ratio {on the separation behavior of different par-
ticle systems.
From the bivariate Tromp functions in Figure 7, it can
be seen that a change in OA concentration influences the
resulting separation probabilities for all particle systems.
For low OA concentration, the separation behaviour of
particles in all three particle systems is primarily influenced
by particle size. However, particles with an area-equivalent
diameter larger than 10 µm exhibit a higher likelihood of
being enriched in the concentrate if they also possess a larger
aspect ratio, suggesting that spherical particles are more
prone to be separated into the concentrate. For increasing
OA concentration almost all particles are separated into the
concentrate independently of their size, shape and affilia-
tion to one of the particle systems.
CONCLUSION
This study investigates the flotation of lithium-bearing
slags in a PartidgeSmith cell using oleic acid as collector.
In general, the assumption that OA as a known collector
for spodumene flotation could suit as a selective collector
for the upgrading of EnAM LiAlO2 from Li-bearing slags
could be not confirmed. In contrast, froth flotation of
Li-slag material with a collector concentration of 500 g/t
OA resulted in upgrading of the gangue mineral gehlenite.
At 750 g/t and 1000 g/t OA almost 90 wt% of the feed
mass is recovered in the concentrate, caused by a simultane-
ously increasing mass and water pull, resulting in low selec-
tivity. Bivariate Tromp functions, computed from MLA
data to analyze the combined influence of particle shape
and size, show that the aspect ratio has little influence on
the separation, instead, it seems to be driven by the par-
ticle size. However, this effect is less significant for higher
OA concentrations, as the recovery probability is close to
100 %for almost all particles, regardless of the considered
phase. Future studies should also consider shape factors,
other than aspect ratio, such as roundness, as they might
be more significant for the flotation behavior. Furthermore,
the results show that there is a need to find selective collec-
tors for lithium flotation, as the use of OA did not result in
a significant upgrading of LiAlO2.
FUNDING
This research is partially funded by the German Research
Foundation (DFG) via the research projects RU 2184/2-1
and SCHM 997/45-1 within the priority program SPP 2315
“Engineered artificial minerals (EnAM)—A geo-metallurgi-
cal tool to recycle critical elements from waste streams.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Josephine Roth is gratefully acknowledged to perform the
froth flotation experiments. Michael Stoll and Roland
Würkert are gratefully acknowledged for the preparation of
12 epoxy embedded samples with an especially developed
technique for the MLA measurements.
Table 2. Mean area-equivalent diameter (d
A in µm) associated with all particles, of LiAlO2 particles and gehlenite particles in
feed, concentrate and tailings for froth flotation tests with 500 g/t, 750 g/t and 1000 g/t OA
Oleic Acid Concentration Feed Concentrate Tailings
500 g/t 10.05 8.75 10.67
750 g/t 10.38 10.37 17.39
1000 g/t 9.87 9.75 14.23
Oleic Acid Concentration Feed Concentrate Tailings
500 g/t 8.44 8.66 6.92
750 g/t 8.65 8.65 12.71
1000 g/t 8.47 8.38 10.97
Oleic Acid Concentration Feed Concentrate Tailings
500 g/t 11.28 9.43 11.28
750 g/t 11.94 11.88 21.25
1000 g/t 11.39 11.25 16.61
All
particles
LiAlO
2
Gehlenite
or tailings, and the varying OA concentrations do not affect
the separation behavior.
Tromp function for 2-dimensional particle descriptor
vectors
Bivariate Tromp functions were computed for all particles
and exclusively for LiAlO2 and gehlenite particles as a result
of froth flotation tests. These functions provide insight into
the combined influence of particle size d
A and shape with
aspect ratio {on the separation behavior of different par-
ticle systems.
From the bivariate Tromp functions in Figure 7, it can
be seen that a change in OA concentration influences the
resulting separation probabilities for all particle systems.
For low OA concentration, the separation behaviour of
particles in all three particle systems is primarily influenced
by particle size. However, particles with an area-equivalent
diameter larger than 10 µm exhibit a higher likelihood of
being enriched in the concentrate if they also possess a larger
aspect ratio, suggesting that spherical particles are more
prone to be separated into the concentrate. For increasing
OA concentration almost all particles are separated into the
concentrate independently of their size, shape and affilia-
tion to one of the particle systems.
CONCLUSION
This study investigates the flotation of lithium-bearing
slags in a PartidgeSmith cell using oleic acid as collector.
In general, the assumption that OA as a known collector
for spodumene flotation could suit as a selective collector
for the upgrading of EnAM LiAlO2 from Li-bearing slags
could be not confirmed. In contrast, froth flotation of
Li-slag material with a collector concentration of 500 g/t
OA resulted in upgrading of the gangue mineral gehlenite.
At 750 g/t and 1000 g/t OA almost 90 wt% of the feed
mass is recovered in the concentrate, caused by a simultane-
ously increasing mass and water pull, resulting in low selec-
tivity. Bivariate Tromp functions, computed from MLA
data to analyze the combined influence of particle shape
and size, show that the aspect ratio has little influence on
the separation, instead, it seems to be driven by the par-
ticle size. However, this effect is less significant for higher
OA concentrations, as the recovery probability is close to
100 %for almost all particles, regardless of the considered
phase. Future studies should also consider shape factors,
other than aspect ratio, such as roundness, as they might
be more significant for the flotation behavior. Furthermore,
the results show that there is a need to find selective collec-
tors for lithium flotation, as the use of OA did not result in
a significant upgrading of LiAlO2.
FUNDING
This research is partially funded by the German Research
Foundation (DFG) via the research projects RU 2184/2-1
and SCHM 997/45-1 within the priority program SPP 2315
“Engineered artificial minerals (EnAM)—A geo-metallurgi-
cal tool to recycle critical elements from waste streams.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Josephine Roth is gratefully acknowledged to perform the
froth flotation experiments. Michael Stoll and Roland
Würkert are gratefully acknowledged for the preparation of
12 epoxy embedded samples with an especially developed
technique for the MLA measurements.
Table 2. Mean area-equivalent diameter (d
A in µm) associated with all particles, of LiAlO2 particles and gehlenite particles in
feed, concentrate and tailings for froth flotation tests with 500 g/t, 750 g/t and 1000 g/t OA
Oleic Acid Concentration Feed Concentrate Tailings
500 g/t 10.05 8.75 10.67
750 g/t 10.38 10.37 17.39
1000 g/t 9.87 9.75 14.23
Oleic Acid Concentration Feed Concentrate Tailings
500 g/t 8.44 8.66 6.92
750 g/t 8.65 8.65 12.71
1000 g/t 8.47 8.38 10.97
Oleic Acid Concentration Feed Concentrate Tailings
500 g/t 11.28 9.43 11.28
750 g/t 11.94 11.88 21.25
1000 g/t 11.39 11.25 16.61
All
particles
LiAlO
2
Gehlenite