3340 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Mineral/Collector Interactions Depending on the
Surface Properties
The choice of collectors is dependent on the surface proper-
ties which is dependent on the degree of mineral alteration
and limits Li recovery. The difficulties in flotation of spod-
umene are linked to the anisotropy of the physicochemical
properties according to the planes most exposed during the
liberation. The main surfaces exposed during spodumene
grinding are the {100}, {010}, {001} planes and the {110}
cleavage plane (Moon and Fuerstenau, 2003). From a struc-
tural point of view the silicate and the tetrahedral structures
must generate a negative charge (hydrolysis SiOH= SiO– +
H3O+), therefore the interaction with cationic collectors
(ammonium salts RNH3+) can be promoted. On the other
hand, Al of the exposed alumina groups on the {110} have
two broken bonds (Moon &Fuerstenau, 2003 Quezada &
Toledo, 2020). This leads to positive valences of +1 of alu-
minous sites (Quezada &Toledo, 2020) allowing interac-
tions with anionic collectors (carboxylate R-COO–). These
phenomena are at the origin of the differential hydration
of the different planes and partly explain the poor flotation
with cationic and anionic collectors without prior activa-
tion (Filippov et al., 2019).
CONCLUSIONS
Estimated “hard Li” resources and reserves were signifi-
cantly increased recently due to the advanced exploration
and discovery of new deposits. The USGS estimates prob-
able European lithium resources at 7% of the world total.
The number of lithium mining projects has increased in
recent years in several European countries. The mining
projects in development could eventually cover 80% of the
European needs for battery Li. The European Commission
supported several largescale research and innovation proj-
ects involving partners from industry (research (process
Source: Filippov et al., 2022
Figure 3. Processing circuit combining dry preconcentration methods and flotation for recovering lepidolite from for aplitic
pegmatites
Figure 4. Grinding and surface exposure of spodumene
(adapted from Filippov et al., 2019)
Mineral/Collector Interactions Depending on the
Surface Properties
The choice of collectors is dependent on the surface proper-
ties which is dependent on the degree of mineral alteration
and limits Li recovery. The difficulties in flotation of spod-
umene are linked to the anisotropy of the physicochemical
properties according to the planes most exposed during the
liberation. The main surfaces exposed during spodumene
grinding are the {100}, {010}, {001} planes and the {110}
cleavage plane (Moon and Fuerstenau, 2003). From a struc-
tural point of view the silicate and the tetrahedral structures
must generate a negative charge (hydrolysis SiOH= SiO– +
H3O+), therefore the interaction with cationic collectors
(ammonium salts RNH3+) can be promoted. On the other
hand, Al of the exposed alumina groups on the {110} have
two broken bonds (Moon &Fuerstenau, 2003 Quezada &
Toledo, 2020). This leads to positive valences of +1 of alu-
minous sites (Quezada &Toledo, 2020) allowing interac-
tions with anionic collectors (carboxylate R-COO–). These
phenomena are at the origin of the differential hydration
of the different planes and partly explain the poor flotation
with cationic and anionic collectors without prior activa-
tion (Filippov et al., 2019).
CONCLUSIONS
Estimated “hard Li” resources and reserves were signifi-
cantly increased recently due to the advanced exploration
and discovery of new deposits. The USGS estimates prob-
able European lithium resources at 7% of the world total.
The number of lithium mining projects has increased in
recent years in several European countries. The mining
projects in development could eventually cover 80% of the
European needs for battery Li. The European Commission
supported several largescale research and innovation proj-
ects involving partners from industry (research (process
Source: Filippov et al., 2022
Figure 3. Processing circuit combining dry preconcentration methods and flotation for recovering lepidolite from for aplitic
pegmatites
Figure 4. Grinding and surface exposure of spodumene
(adapted from Filippov et al., 2019)