Exploring the Flotation Performance of a Novel Low-Grade Indian Spodumene-Bearing Pegmatite Deposit for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Lithium is crucial for the transition toward sustainable energy solutions that aim to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Given its growing significance due to the exponentially increasing applications as an energy storage material in batteries, it is imperative to explore new geological resources of lithium and adopt sustainable strategies for the efficient recovery of lithium values from these sources. In this context, the present investigation aims to recover lithium values from the low-grade Indian spodumene-bearing pegmatites for the first time. The primary minerals present in the sample include spodumene, quartz, orthoclase, and mica. The sample used in the present investigation assayed a lithium oxide (Li2O) concentration of 1.10%. Froth flotation is one of the most predominant techniques of processing finely liberated spodumene-bearing pegmatites. Given the above, reverse and direct flotation experiments were performed by adjusting the particle size, depressant dosage, and collector dosage across various levels. Statistical analysis of the experimental results was conducted using Design-Expert software to assess the impact and significance of the variables on outcomes such as product yield, grade, and recovery. The flotation experiments demonstrated that all variables significantly influenced the response metrics. Additionally, the enrichment ratio has been computed to assess the separation performance of both flotation techniques. The reverse flotation route was established as a superior method for Li2O enrichment compared to direct flotation. Furthermore, a process flowsheet has been developed for treating low-grade Indian spodumene-bearing pegmatites, which enriched the product Li2O content to 6.2%, achieving a significant improvement over prior studies on similar low-grade ores.