3214 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Flotation Without Pre-Treatment
Graphite is naturally hydrophobic, meaning that no col-
lector is required. The challenge for recovery and selectiv-
ity is liberation either due to: i) poor breakage arriving
from the shredding and separation of the lithium-ion bat-
tery modules, ii) particle agglomeration during the filter-
ing and drying process, and/or iii) presence of binder. The
other flotation challenge is fine particles where spheridized
graphite particles are expected to be approximately ten
microns. Initial flotation testing was conducted on Sample
A, as-is black mass with no pre-treatment, grinding or
binder removal, to establish conditions and metallurgy. The
parameters evaluated were frother dosage type and initial
cleaning.
Two frothers, Aerofroth 70 and OREPREP F507,
were evaluated. According to the datasheet provided by
Solvay, Aerofroth 70 was described as an alcohol based
while OREPREP F507 is a combination of three molecu-
lar weight glycol. Rougher dosages evaluated were 300g/t,
150g/t, and 80g/t of each frother. It should be noted that
sodium silicate RU (400g/t) was added along with the
80g/t dosage trial. In addition, Aerofroth 70 alone was
evaluated. Finally, cleaning was explored with just 80g/t of
each frother in the rougher followed by water clean of the
rougher concentrate. Detail conditions are summarized in
Table 2.
2T -C-H:
2T CO: 2103.03CM-1
2T CO2:
2T H2O: 3854.10CM-1
60
70
80
90
100
C-H (org5CM-1anics).89702
2970.8 cm-1
C-O (CO)
2103.0 cm-1
C-O (CO2)M-17C.36323
2363.4 cm-1
O-H (H2O)
3854.1 cm-1
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Temperature (°C)
Sample B
Figure 3. Weight loss (top) and evolved gas profile (bottom) for the C-H bond absorption as a function
of TGA furnace temperature showing the binder degradation temperature range (dashed red lines). The
evolved gas profiles for CO, CO
2 ,and H
2 O are also shown for additional information purposes
Weightloss
by
TGA
(%)
Absorbance
by
FTIR
Flotation Without Pre-Treatment
Graphite is naturally hydrophobic, meaning that no col-
lector is required. The challenge for recovery and selectiv-
ity is liberation either due to: i) poor breakage arriving
from the shredding and separation of the lithium-ion bat-
tery modules, ii) particle agglomeration during the filter-
ing and drying process, and/or iii) presence of binder. The
other flotation challenge is fine particles where spheridized
graphite particles are expected to be approximately ten
microns. Initial flotation testing was conducted on Sample
A, as-is black mass with no pre-treatment, grinding or
binder removal, to establish conditions and metallurgy. The
parameters evaluated were frother dosage type and initial
cleaning.
Two frothers, Aerofroth 70 and OREPREP F507,
were evaluated. According to the datasheet provided by
Solvay, Aerofroth 70 was described as an alcohol based
while OREPREP F507 is a combination of three molecu-
lar weight glycol. Rougher dosages evaluated were 300g/t,
150g/t, and 80g/t of each frother. It should be noted that
sodium silicate RU (400g/t) was added along with the
80g/t dosage trial. In addition, Aerofroth 70 alone was
evaluated. Finally, cleaning was explored with just 80g/t of
each frother in the rougher followed by water clean of the
rougher concentrate. Detail conditions are summarized in
Table 2.
2T -C-H:
2T CO: 2103.03CM-1
2T CO2:
2T H2O: 3854.10CM-1
60
70
80
90
100
C-H (org5CM-1anics).89702
2970.8 cm-1
C-O (CO)
2103.0 cm-1
C-O (CO2)M-17C.36323
2363.4 cm-1
O-H (H2O)
3854.1 cm-1
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Temperature (°C)
Sample B
Figure 3. Weight loss (top) and evolved gas profile (bottom) for the C-H bond absorption as a function
of TGA furnace temperature showing the binder degradation temperature range (dashed red lines). The
evolved gas profiles for CO, CO
2 ,and H
2 O are also shown for additional information purposes
Weightloss
by
TGA
(%)
Absorbance
by
FTIR