Pollucite Flotation Using TM2 and Ammonium Fluoride
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in efficiently recovering cesium from pollucite ore, as existing methods result in low recovery rates and require toxic, volatile reagents like HF, and there is a need for effective separation of pollucite from other minerals in mineral tailings, particularly in the West Tailing Management Area (TMA) where pollucite is often discharged as a tailing.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a series of flotation processes using specific reagent combinations and pH conditions to separate pollucite from plagioclase and quartz, and other minerals like amblygonite, spodumene, and mica, utilizing collectors such as TM2 and NH4F, and frothers like POLYFROTH W31, to achieve high-grade cesium recovery without the use of HF.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If HF reagent is used to concentrate pollucite, then pollucite concentration increases slightly above 5%, but cesium recovery is only approximately 60% and the process becomes toxic and volatile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by replacing HF with a combination of ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and organic collectors (TM2, TCM2). This parameter substitution transforms the toxic inorganic acid system into a safer chemical system while improving pollucite concentration to over 16% and cesium recovery to over 65%.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs conventional, non-toxic reagents (ammonium fluoride and organic collectors) that are safer and more environmentally friendly than HF. These reagents achieve the desired separation effect without the hazardous properties of HF, making the process more reliable and environmentally acceptable.
2Quantity of substance
If low grade pollucite (5-9% Cs2O) is fed into the chemical plant, then processing can proceed, but cesium recovery is only approximately 80% and processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary flotation concentration to raise pollucite grade from 5-9% Cs2O to over 16% Cs2O before chemical processing. This preliminary enrichment action ensures that the chemical plant receives high-grade feed material, which improves subsequent cesium recovery to over 65% and reduces processing costs.
3Reliability
If pollucite ore is processed to recover cesium, then cesium salt can be produced, but separation from other minerals like plagioclase and quartz is difficult without toxic reagents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses organic collectors (TM2, TCM2) and ammonium fluoride as intermediary reagents that selectively adsorb to pollucite surfaces, enabling separation from plagioclase and quartz. These intermediaries provide the necessary selectivity without the toxicity of HF, achieving both production reliability and environmental safety.
4Manufacturing precision
If higher grade pollucite is produced, then cesium salt recovery is enhanced and production cost is reduced, but achieving higher concentration requires more effective separation methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves higher pollucite grades (over 16% Cs2O) by optimizing chemical parameters - using specific ratios of ammonium fluoride to organic collectors (TM2, TCM2) at controlled pH levels. This parameter optimization enables effective separation without requiring complex multi-stage processes, maintaining operational simplicity while achieving high concentration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves a significant increase in cesium recovery, concentrating pollucite to over 16% Cs2O with a recovery rate of over 65%, while producing relatively pure quartz and minimizing environmental impact, using non-toxic reagents and optimizing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the quantity of mineral tailings to flotation conditions comprising TM2 and NH4F at a ratio of about 1 part TM2 to about 2.3 parts NH4F at a pH of about 2, wherein TM2 comprises about 1 part sodium sulfonate and about two parts tallowamineacetate, thereby separating the plagioclase from the pollucite and the quartz
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the pollucite and quartz to flotation conditions comprising TM2 and NH4F at a ratio of about 1 part TM2 to about 2.3 parts NH4F at a pH of about 2.35 to about 2.8, thereby separating the pollucite from the quartz
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a method for the recovery of two major valuable lithium minerals (amblygonite and spodumene), a cesium mineral (pollucite) and quartz. The method comprises a series of direct flotation processes combined with reverse flotation processes that were designed to recover these lithium and cesium concentrates.