XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 3215
The total carbon recovery in the rougher concentrate as
a function of mass pull as well as the cathodic element lost
at the roughing stage is shown in Figure 4. Approximately
95% of the total carbon was recovered but with significant
mass pull (70–78%) under all the conditions tested. The
best results were achieved with Aerofroth 70 only, recover-
ing 94% C(T) in 69% mass. Approximately 50% of the Li,
Co, Ni, and Mn were recovered in the rougher concentrate.
This signified that an alcohol based frother alone was suf-
ficient at small scale (250g feed). Despite the high total car-
bon recovery, the metals (Li, Co, Ni, and Mn) recovered in
the rougher concentrate were excessive (~53–60%) likely
due to poor liberation. This is critical as the cathodic metals
are the economic driver for LIB recycling.
Using a combination of Aerofroth 70 and OREPREP
F507 at 80g/t each in rougher flotation, the rougher con-
centrate collected was water cleaned three times with no
reagents. The total carbon recovery as a function of the con-
centrate grade at the respective roughing and cleaning stages
along with the cathodic elements lost at each stage are pre-
sented in Figure 5. Further upgrading was observed where
the rougher concentrate grade of 47.5% C(T) was increased
to 60.1% C(T) with 85% recovery in the 3rd cleaner con-
centrate. Approximately 9% total carbon deported to the
Table 2. Flotation conditions on sample a without pre-treatment
Objective
Reagents, g/t (Rougher/Cleaner)
Diesel Aerofroth 70 OREPREP F507 Sodium Silicate RU
Frother Dosage 300 300 300 —
Frother Dosage 300 150 150 —
Frother Dosage 300 80 80 400
Frother Type 300 120 0 —
Cleaning 300/0 80/0 80/0 —
80.0
85.0
90.0
95.0
100.0
0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0
Mass Pull (%)
Aerofroth 70 300g/t and OREPREP 507 300g/t
Aerofroth 70 150g/t and OREPREP 507 150g/t
Aerofroth 70 80g/t and OREPREP 507 80g/t
Aerofroth 70 120g/t 0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
Aerofroth 70
300g/t and
OREPREP 507
300g/t
Aerofroth 70
150g/t and
OREPREP 507
150g/t
Aerofroth 70 80g/t
and OREPREP
507 80g/t
Aerofroth 70
120g/t
Li Co Ni Mn
Figure 4. Total carbon recovery (left) and metal loss (right) in rougher concentrate without pre-treatment (Sample A)
80.0
85.0
90.0
95.0
100.0
0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0
C(T) Grade (%)
Cleaning
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
3rd Clnr Conc 2nd Clnr Conc 1st Clnr Conc Rougher Conc
Li Co Ni Mn
Figure 5. Total carbon grade-recovery curve (left) and metal loss by flotation stage without pre-treatment (Sample A)
C(T)
Recovery
(%)
Metal
Loss
(%)
C(T)
Recovery
(%)
Metal
Loss
(%)
The total carbon recovery in the rougher concentrate as
a function of mass pull as well as the cathodic element lost
at the roughing stage is shown in Figure 4. Approximately
95% of the total carbon was recovered but with significant
mass pull (70–78%) under all the conditions tested. The
best results were achieved with Aerofroth 70 only, recover-
ing 94% C(T) in 69% mass. Approximately 50% of the Li,
Co, Ni, and Mn were recovered in the rougher concentrate.
This signified that an alcohol based frother alone was suf-
ficient at small scale (250g feed). Despite the high total car-
bon recovery, the metals (Li, Co, Ni, and Mn) recovered in
the rougher concentrate were excessive (~53–60%) likely
due to poor liberation. This is critical as the cathodic metals
are the economic driver for LIB recycling.
Using a combination of Aerofroth 70 and OREPREP
F507 at 80g/t each in rougher flotation, the rougher con-
centrate collected was water cleaned three times with no
reagents. The total carbon recovery as a function of the con-
centrate grade at the respective roughing and cleaning stages
along with the cathodic elements lost at each stage are pre-
sented in Figure 5. Further upgrading was observed where
the rougher concentrate grade of 47.5% C(T) was increased
to 60.1% C(T) with 85% recovery in the 3rd cleaner con-
centrate. Approximately 9% total carbon deported to the
Table 2. Flotation conditions on sample a without pre-treatment
Objective
Reagents, g/t (Rougher/Cleaner)
Diesel Aerofroth 70 OREPREP F507 Sodium Silicate RU
Frother Dosage 300 300 300 —
Frother Dosage 300 150 150 —
Frother Dosage 300 80 80 400
Frother Type 300 120 0 —
Cleaning 300/0 80/0 80/0 —
80.0
85.0
90.0
95.0
100.0
0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0
Mass Pull (%)
Aerofroth 70 300g/t and OREPREP 507 300g/t
Aerofroth 70 150g/t and OREPREP 507 150g/t
Aerofroth 70 80g/t and OREPREP 507 80g/t
Aerofroth 70 120g/t 0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
Aerofroth 70
300g/t and
OREPREP 507
300g/t
Aerofroth 70
150g/t and
OREPREP 507
150g/t
Aerofroth 70 80g/t
and OREPREP
507 80g/t
Aerofroth 70
120g/t
Li Co Ni Mn
Figure 4. Total carbon recovery (left) and metal loss (right) in rougher concentrate without pre-treatment (Sample A)
80.0
85.0
90.0
95.0
100.0
0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0
C(T) Grade (%)
Cleaning
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
3rd Clnr Conc 2nd Clnr Conc 1st Clnr Conc Rougher Conc
Li Co Ni Mn
Figure 5. Total carbon grade-recovery curve (left) and metal loss by flotation stage without pre-treatment (Sample A)
C(T)
Recovery
(%)
Metal
Loss
(%)
C(T)
Recovery
(%)
Metal
Loss
(%)