An overview of coarse particle beneficiation of lithium ores

作者：Philipa A. Opoku, Bogale Tadesse, Boris Albijanic, Aleksandar N. Nikoloski · 发表于：Scientific Reports · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41598-025-14059-z · 被引用次数：11 · 研究领域：Minerals Flotation and Separation Techniques、Extraction and Separation Processes、Mineral Processing and Grinding

The increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries particularly for electric vehicles underscores the importance of improving the sustainability of lithium mining operations. The depletion of high-grade lithium ore deposits has necessitated the upgrading of medium to low-grade ores for lithium extraction. Spodumene is the most commercially exploited lithium-bearing mineral found in pegmatites due to its high lithium content. Ore sorting can be used for early rejection of up to 60% of gangue minerals prior to preconcentration. Dense media separation is a viable spodumene beneficiation method. However, as case studies have shown, flotation may still be required to process middlings and the undersized fraction, which falls outside the particle size range effective for dense media separation. Magnetic separation can be conducted during or after flotation to remove iron impurities in lithium concentrates. While fine particle flotation has historically achieved high recovery rates, their economic feasibility is increasingly questioned due to intensive comminution requirements. Coarse particle flotation in mechanical flotation cells for instance is inefficient due to turbulence-induced detachment of coarse particles. Coarse particle beneficiation using fluidized bed flotation cells can offer advantages such as reduced grind size and environmental footprint. Despite proven energy savings and recovery efficiencies in other mineral sectors, their application in lithium mining operations r...