Effect of spodumene leaching with sodium hydroxide on its flotation

Effects of NaOH on flotation of spodumene, quartz and feldspar using oleic acid as a collector were investigated through microflotation and bench scale flotation tests. It was determined that NaOH acted more than a pH regulator in the tests. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that spodumene was preferentially leached by conditioning with high concentration of NaOH in the solution and exposed more Li positive sites on the mineral surface leading to an improved flotation.