Improving the flotation of fine valuable lithium minerals through the formation of hydrophobic flocs

Abstract

Recovering spodumene in the fine particle size range is challenging because flotation recovery decreases sharply as particle size decreases, while concentrate grade can be limited by gangue activation and non-selective fines transport. This thesis evaluates whether selective aggregation can be engineered to provide a flotation advantage for fine spodumene and defines the operating conditions under which aggregation improves both recovery and upgrading rather than simply increasing mass pull. The work focuses on Ca(II)-mediated activation and anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) bridging in combination with anionic collectors, and tests translation from controlled synthetic systems through increased ..