There are two processes of calcium carbonate: one is positive flotation and the other is reverse flotation.1 The positive flotation that is preferential flotation of spodumene, the working principle: ground fine ore in an alkaline medium formed by sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate, after high concentration, strong agitation and multiple washing and de-sludge, the fatty acid or its soap is added as a collector to directly float the spodumene.
The reverse flotation process is to inhibit the spodumene in a lime-adjusted alkaline medium with dextrin and starch as a regulator, and use a cationic collector to float the silicate-like gangue mineral as a foam, and the product in the tank is It is a spodumene concentrate.Hand selection and flotation are the main methods for selecting spodumene. Other methods such as thermal cracking, magnetic separation and gravity separation play an auxiliary role in the production of spodumene concentrate.
When the natural spodumene is about 1100 °C, its crystals change from α type to β type, and at the same time, the volume expands and easily breaks into powder. Through grinding and screening producers, can achieve separation of spodumene and gangue minerals.