Improvement of the froth flotation of LiAlO2 and melilite solid solution via pre-functionalization

Hao Qiu; Jule Kersebaum; Annett Wollmann; Niklas Feuge; Andrea Haas; Daniel Goldmann; René Wilhelm

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-00008-z

Improvement of the froth flotation of LiAlO₂ and melilite solid solution via pre-functionalization

Sci Rep. 2021 Oct 14;11(1):20443. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-00008-z.

Authors

Hao Qiu¹, Jule Kersebaum¹, Annett Wollmann², Niklas Feuge³, Andrea Haas¹, Daniel Goldmann⁴, René Wilhelm⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Waste Disposal and Geotechnics, Clausthal University of Technology, Walther-Nernst-Str. 9, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.
² Institute of Particle Technology, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 19, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.
³ Institute of Organic Chemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 6, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.
⁴ Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Waste Disposal and Geotechnics, Clausthal University of Technology, Walther-Nernst-Str. 9, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. daniel.goldmann@tu-clausthal.de.
⁵ Institute of Organic Chemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 6, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. rene.wilhelm@tu-clausthal.de.

Abstract

In this work froth flotation studies with LiAlO₂ (lithium-containing phase) and Melilite solid solution (gangue phase) are presented. The system was optimized with standard collectors and with compounds so far not applied as collectors. Furthermore, the principle of self-assembled monolayers was introduced to a froth flotation process for the first time resulting in excellent yields and selectivities.