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The Impact of Rosin Content in Fatty Acid Collectors on
Spodumene Flotation
Brian Kawenski Cook
The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining Critical Minerals Processing Group,
Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
SGS Canada Inc., Lakefield, ON, Canada
Massoud Aghamirian
SGS Canada Inc., Lakefield, ON, Canada
Charlotte E. Gibson
The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining Critical Minerals Processing Group,
Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
ABSTRACT: Many hard rock lithium projects require flotation using fatty acid collectors to maximize
spodumene (LiAl[SiO3]2)concentrate production for the lithium-ion battery market. However, fatty acid
collectors are known for their poor solubility and limited selectivity, making consistent concentrate production
challenging. Many lithium pegmatite mineral projects must reject iron-bearing silicate minerals like amphiboles
and other pyroxenes to produce concentrates with under 1.0% Fe2O3. Unfortunately, these iron silicate minerals
are prone to flotation with fatty acids under the same conditions as spodumene. While ore sorting and magnetic
separation can reduce the iron content, another option is to improve the selective rejection of iron minerals
during flotation. This study investigated the impact of rosin acid type and content on spodumene flotation
and rejection of iron bearing gangue. Six collectors were evaluated: two commercial fatty acids (FA1 and FA2)
and four blends based on FA1 or FA2 at 5% dilutions of two different rosins (NCY and HYR). The findings
confirmed that increasing the total rosin content increased gangue recovery with some increase in lithium
recovery. There was also some indication that the rosin species also played a role in the type of gangue mineral
recovered. A higher ratio of palustric, abietic, and neoabietic acids led increased iron recovery, while a higher
ratio of dehydroabietic acid led to increased recovery of silicate gangue. Further investigations are needed to
confirm the fundamental impact of rosin acids on the selectivity of fatty acids in spodumene flotation.
INTRODUCTION
The world is experiencing a surge in the demand for sus-
tainable technologies. A major component of this is the
transition to electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion bat-
teries (LiBs), which has dramatically increased the demand
for lithium. Pure lithium cannot be found in nature but
can be produced from three primary sources: brine depos-
its, hard-rock minerals, and clays (Bowell et al. 2020).
Over half of the lithium production in 2022 was sourced
from hard-rock mineral deposits, largely in Australia, with
The Impact of Rosin Content in Fatty Acid Collectors on
Spodumene Flotation
Brian Kawenski Cook
The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining Critical Minerals Processing Group,
Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
SGS Canada Inc., Lakefield, ON, Canada
Massoud Aghamirian
SGS Canada Inc., Lakefield, ON, Canada
Charlotte E. Gibson
The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining Critical Minerals Processing Group,
Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
ABSTRACT: Many hard rock lithium projects require flotation using fatty acid collectors to maximize
spodumene (LiAl[SiO3]2)concentrate production for the lithium-ion battery market. However, fatty acid
collectors are known for their poor solubility and limited selectivity, making consistent concentrate production
challenging. Many lithium pegmatite mineral projects must reject iron-bearing silicate minerals like amphiboles
and other pyroxenes to produce concentrates with under 1.0% Fe2O3. Unfortunately, these iron silicate minerals
are prone to flotation with fatty acids under the same conditions as spodumene. While ore sorting and magnetic
separation can reduce the iron content, another option is to improve the selective rejection of iron minerals
during flotation. This study investigated the impact of rosin acid type and content on spodumene flotation
and rejection of iron bearing gangue. Six collectors were evaluated: two commercial fatty acids (FA1 and FA2)
and four blends based on FA1 or FA2 at 5% dilutions of two different rosins (NCY and HYR). The findings
confirmed that increasing the total rosin content increased gangue recovery with some increase in lithium
recovery. There was also some indication that the rosin species also played a role in the type of gangue mineral
recovered. A higher ratio of palustric, abietic, and neoabietic acids led increased iron recovery, while a higher
ratio of dehydroabietic acid led to increased recovery of silicate gangue. Further investigations are needed to
confirm the fundamental impact of rosin acids on the selectivity of fatty acids in spodumene flotation.
INTRODUCTION
The world is experiencing a surge in the demand for sus-
tainable technologies. A major component of this is the
transition to electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion bat-
teries (LiBs), which has dramatically increased the demand
for lithium. Pure lithium cannot be found in nature but
can be produced from three primary sources: brine depos-
its, hard-rock minerals, and clays (Bowell et al. 2020).
Over half of the lithium production in 2022 was sourced
from hard-rock mineral deposits, largely in Australia, with