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Kinetic approach to the study of froth flotation applied to a lepidolite ore

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Abstract

The number of published studies related to the optimization of lithium extraction from low-grade ores has increased as the demand for lithium has grown. However, no study related to the kinetics of the concentration stage of lithium-containing minerals by froth flotation has yet been reported. To establish a factorial design of batch flotation experiments, we conducted a set of kinetic tests to determine the most selective alternative collector, define a range of pulp pH values, and estimate a near-optimum flotation time. Both collectors (Aeromine 3000C and Armeen 12D) provided the required flotation selectivity, although this selectivity was lost in the case of pulp pH values outside the range between 2 and 4. Cumulative mineral recovery curves were used to adjust a classical kinetic model that was modified with a non-negative parameter representing a delay time. The computation of the near-optimum flotation time as the maximizer of a separation efficiency (SE) function must be performed with caution. We instead propose to define the near-optimum flotation time as the time interval required to achieve 95%–99% of the maximum value of the SE function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research - IN+, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

    Nathália Vieceli & Fernanda Margarido

  2. CERENA - Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente, DECivil, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

    Fernando O. Durão, Carlos Guimarães & Manuel F. C. Pereira

  3. LNEG - Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, I.P., Campus do Lumiar, 1649-038, Lisboa, Portugal

    Carlos A. Nogueira

Authors
  1. Nathália Vieceli
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  2. Fernando O. Durão
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  3. Carlos Guimarães
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  4. Carlos A. Nogueira
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  5. Manuel F. C. Pereira
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  6. Fernanda Margarido
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Correspondence to Nathália Vieceli.

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Vieceli, N., Durão, F.O., Guimarães, C. et al. Kinetic approach to the study of froth flotation applied to a lepidolite ore. Int J Miner Metall Mater 23, 731–742 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-016-1287-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-016-1287-z

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