3324
Process Optimization for the Lithium Concentrate Recovery
from Spodumene Ore in East Kazakhstan
Daulet Sagzhanov, Junichiro Ito, Batnasan Altansukh, Labone L. Godirilwe, Kazutoshi Haga, Atsushi
Shibayama
Department of Earth Resource Engineering and Environmental Science, Faculty of International Resource Sciences,
Mineral Processing &Extractive Metallurgy, Akita University, Tegata-Gakuen Machi, Akita, Japan
ABSTRACT: The beneficiation of a low-grade spodumene ore from Eastern Kazakhstan is investigated by dense
media separation (DMS) and froth floatation to obtain a concentrated lithium product. Pre-concentration
using DMS processed the 1000/+850 µm and 850/+500 µm size fractions of low-grade lithium ore (0.6%
Li2O) and 85–90% of the lithium oxide can be recovered in 5–10% of the mass with lithium grades ranging
from 5.1% to 5.7% Li2O at a separation specific gravity of 2.80. The main requirement in DMS is to have well-
liberated spodumene at a relatively coarse grain size. Additionally, the reverse flotation of spodumene has also
been considered. A maximum lithium recovery of approximately 30% with a highest lithium grade of 1.0% was
obtained under flotation condition of 1000 g/t NaOL/DAA, ratio of 1:5, pH 10. Dextrin, at a concentration of
4000 g/t under the same flotation conditions, demonstrated superior selectivity, enhancing lithium recovery to
approximately 53% and increasing the grade to 1.20% Li2O from an initial 0.26% Li2O content. In contrast,
pulp conditioning with starch had minimal impact on the flotation efficiency for lithium recovery from the
low-grade spodumene ore.
Keywords: Lithium, Low-grade spodumene, Dense Media Separation, Flotation, Dodecylamine Acetate, and
Sodium Oleate
INTRODUCTION
Lithium is increasingly vital due to its key role in emerg-
ing clean technologies such as grid storage, electric vehicles,
and portable electronic devices, contributing to sustainable
global economic growth and aiding in achieving stringent
carbon emission goals (Liu et al., 2023). Therefore, the effi-
cient development and utilization of lithium resources is of
great significance (Rezaee et al., 2021, Han et al., 2022).
Currently, highly saline lake brines, with lithium con-
centrations ranging from 200 to 4000 mg/L, represent
the largest (59%) and most economical primary lithium
sources. This is followed by lithium-bearing minerals
(25%) in igneous rocks with 1–4% lithium grades (Garcia
et al., 2023). However, other sources like low-grade ores
and seawater are often overlooked. From the modern per-
spective of integrated raw material utilization, all mineral
components of lithium-bearing ores are potentially indus-
trially useful (Tadesse et al., 2019). Spodumene, a primary
source of high-purity lithium, theoretically contains about
8% Li2O, 27.4% Al2O3, and 64.6% SiO2 (Gibson et al.,
2017). Although lithium-bearing pegmatites are abun-
dant, their lithium content must be sufficiently high for
cost-effective extraction (Cook et al., 2022). For lithium
extraction to be economically viable, spodumene concen-
trates must have over 6.0% lithia content. The beneficia-
tion of spodumene is complex due to the physicochemical
Process Optimization for the Lithium Concentrate Recovery
from Spodumene Ore in East Kazakhstan
Daulet Sagzhanov, Junichiro Ito, Batnasan Altansukh, Labone L. Godirilwe, Kazutoshi Haga, Atsushi
Shibayama
Department of Earth Resource Engineering and Environmental Science, Faculty of International Resource Sciences,
Mineral Processing &Extractive Metallurgy, Akita University, Tegata-Gakuen Machi, Akita, Japan
ABSTRACT: The beneficiation of a low-grade spodumene ore from Eastern Kazakhstan is investigated by dense
media separation (DMS) and froth floatation to obtain a concentrated lithium product. Pre-concentration
using DMS processed the 1000/+850 µm and 850/+500 µm size fractions of low-grade lithium ore (0.6%
Li2O) and 85–90% of the lithium oxide can be recovered in 5–10% of the mass with lithium grades ranging
from 5.1% to 5.7% Li2O at a separation specific gravity of 2.80. The main requirement in DMS is to have well-
liberated spodumene at a relatively coarse grain size. Additionally, the reverse flotation of spodumene has also
been considered. A maximum lithium recovery of approximately 30% with a highest lithium grade of 1.0% was
obtained under flotation condition of 1000 g/t NaOL/DAA, ratio of 1:5, pH 10. Dextrin, at a concentration of
4000 g/t under the same flotation conditions, demonstrated superior selectivity, enhancing lithium recovery to
approximately 53% and increasing the grade to 1.20% Li2O from an initial 0.26% Li2O content. In contrast,
pulp conditioning with starch had minimal impact on the flotation efficiency for lithium recovery from the
low-grade spodumene ore.
Keywords: Lithium, Low-grade spodumene, Dense Media Separation, Flotation, Dodecylamine Acetate, and
Sodium Oleate
INTRODUCTION
Lithium is increasingly vital due to its key role in emerg-
ing clean technologies such as grid storage, electric vehicles,
and portable electronic devices, contributing to sustainable
global economic growth and aiding in achieving stringent
carbon emission goals (Liu et al., 2023). Therefore, the effi-
cient development and utilization of lithium resources is of
great significance (Rezaee et al., 2021, Han et al., 2022).
Currently, highly saline lake brines, with lithium con-
centrations ranging from 200 to 4000 mg/L, represent
the largest (59%) and most economical primary lithium
sources. This is followed by lithium-bearing minerals
(25%) in igneous rocks with 1–4% lithium grades (Garcia
et al., 2023). However, other sources like low-grade ores
and seawater are often overlooked. From the modern per-
spective of integrated raw material utilization, all mineral
components of lithium-bearing ores are potentially indus-
trially useful (Tadesse et al., 2019). Spodumene, a primary
source of high-purity lithium, theoretically contains about
8% Li2O, 27.4% Al2O3, and 64.6% SiO2 (Gibson et al.,
2017). Although lithium-bearing pegmatites are abun-
dant, their lithium content must be sufficiently high for
cost-effective extraction (Cook et al., 2022). For lithium
extraction to be economically viable, spodumene concen-
trates must have over 6.0% lithia content. The beneficia-
tion of spodumene is complex due to the physicochemical