Beneficiation of Low-Grade Lithium Ores from Eastern Kazakhstan by Dense Media Separation (DMS) and Froth Flotation

LithiumLithium is one of the critical elements required for clean energy technology to achieve a carbon-neutral target. In this study, the beneficiation ofLow-grade spodumene ore a low-grade spodumene ore (0.3–0.6% Li2O) from Eastern Kazakhstan is investigated by dense medium separation (DMS)Dense Medium Separation (DMS) and froth flotationFlotation to obtain lithiumLithium concentrate. The main gangue minerals in the spodumene ore are feldspar, quartz and mica. The highest lithiumLithium grade in concentrate from DMSDense Medium Separation (DMS) of 1000/+ 850 µm size fractions of the low-grade spodumene oreLow-grade spodumene ore is achieved at approximately 5.7% from 0.6% (Li2O), with a recoveryRecovery of about 90%. Furthermore, the spodumene ore is beneficiated by reverse flotationFlotation using NaOL and DAA as mixed collectorsMixed collector. The maximum lithiumLithium recoveryRecovery of approximately 30% with the highest lithiumLithium grade of 1.0% was obtained from a low-grade spodumene oreLow-grade spodumene ore under flotationFlotation condition of 1000 g/t NaOL/DAA, ratio of 1:5, pH 10. Conditioning the pulp with starch has little effect on the flotationFlotation recoveryRecovery of lithiumLithium from low-grade spodumene oreLow-grade spodumene ore improving lithiumLithium grade from 1.0 to 1.45%.