Collector is Important to the Effect of Lithium Ore Flotation Process

01Lithium ore anion collector

The harvesting mechanism of anion collector and lithium ore mainly depends on the combination of the particle point on the surface of lithium ore particles. Under the suitable pH conditions of single mineral flotation, the anion collector and the spodumene surface have good selectivity through electrostatic force and chemical reaction.

The common anionic collectors include sodium oleate, oxidized paraffin soap, naphthenic acid soap, sodium lauryl sulfate, hydroxamic acid, etc. These anionic collectors act on the surface of lithium particles through different active groups. Single anion collector has good selectivity, but the harvesting ability is weak, and can be used with high valence metal ions activator under strong alkaline conditions, and adjust the selectivity of activation by adjusting high valence metal cations. In addition, fatty acid collectors such as oleic acid and oxidized paraffin soap are used in lithium ore flotation, and are not easy to dissolve and disperse in the pulp. It needs to adjust the pulp environment to be alkaline, and the temperature is also required.

02Lithium ore cation collector

Lithium ore cation collectors include dodecylamine, tetradecylamine, hexadecylamine and its isomers, mixed amines and cocoamine, etc. The amine group acts on the surface of lithium ore particles through electrostatic force or van der Waals force, requiring high-valent metal cations and modifiers to control the selectivity of the activation of ore particles. When performing pure mineral flotation of lithium ore, the flotation capacity is good in a wide pH range, and the recovery rate of lithium ore is high, but the selectivity to different minerals is poor.

03Lithium ore combination collector

The combination of different collectors can often play a greater role, resulting in co-adsorption, lengthening of the hydrophobic end, and promotion of adsorption. Some can improve the flotation efficiency, some can increase the concentrate grade, some can reduce the dosage of chemicals or improve the flotation environment, etc. Lithium ore combined collectors mainly include anion-cation combination collectors, anion combination collectors, anion-nonion combination collectors, etc.

01 Anion and cation combined collector

The anion-cation combination collector has strong synergistic effect and surface activity in lithium ore flotation, and has good collection and selectivity. The commonly used combined collectors of this type are cationic collectors containing -NH₂ structure and anionic collectors containing -COOH structure.

02 Anionic combined collector

In lithium ore flotation, anionic combined collectors can improve the flotation environment, and enhance the performance of reagents through anionic active groups of different structures. The cost is low and the concentrate index can be improved.

03 Anionic and nonionic combined collector

In the flotation of silicate lithium minerals, anionic and nonionic combined collectors can play a good role. Nonionic collectors have large molecules, and when combined with anionic collectors, they act as a synergist to promote anion collection. The collector dissolves and disperses in the flotation solution, reduces the critical micelle concentration of the collector, and improves the flotation performance.

04Lithium ore new-type collector

New-type collectors for lithium ore flotation mainly include amphoteric collectors and chelating collectors. The amphoteric collector contains both anionic and cationic functional groups, and this heterosexual active group structure strengthens the performance of the collector.

The mechanism of chelating collectors for flotation of spodumene is that the collectors form ligands in the solution and have a strong bond with metal cations Al³⁺, Si⁴⁺, Ca²⁺ on the surface of lithium to form stable chelates , mainly interact with the mineral surface through surface chemical reaction and chemical adsorption, and have strong collection and selection capabilities.

The above is about the lithium ore flotation collector. The collection performance of lithium ore collectors is closely related to the differences in the physical and chemical properties of lithium minerals and gangue minerals. Therefore, when selecting collectors, we should pay attention to the specific properties of the ore, select a suitable collector according to the test results, and consider the actual factors of the concentrator to obtain better economic benefits.