Abstract:The effect of grinding on the spodumene flotation was investigated. The flotation response of spodumene ground by different mills was different, due to the variation of metal ions on spodumene surfaces caused by grinding environments and/or impurities. The samples were subjected to acid pickling treatment to remove most of the metal ions from the surfaces, and then all samples showed the same poor flotation response, which confirmed the significance of surface metal ions. Metal ion impurities may come from both grinding environments and lattice substitutions in spodumene. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation revealed that Fe and Ca could exist as lattice substitutions on the spodumene surface while Mg substitution is unlikely to occur. Furthermore, Fe is considered to be active site for the absorption of sodium oleate on the spodumene surface. Morphology analysis showed differences in particle size and shape for samples ground by different mills, resulting in different amounts of exposed surfaces. The particle size, cleavage characteristics caused by grinding environments, and metal ion impurities originated from grinding and isomorphous substitutions, play significant roles in the chemisorption of collector on the spodumene surface.

Key words: grinding; lattice substitution; metal ion impurities; density functional theory (DFT) calculation; spodumene; cleavage; flotation