Key technologies and development trends for efficient flotation recovery of lepidolite

Lepidolite is an essential lithium resource with diverse applications in lithium-ion batteries, ceramics, glass, and other industrial sectors. Efficient flotation of lepidolite is crucial for the extraction and recycling of lithium resources, holding significant economic and environmental importance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the research progress on the processes, reagents, and mechanistic understanding of lepidolite flotation, grounded in the fundamental properties of lepidolite and its major gangue minerals. The article critically analyzes the current lepidolite flotation technologies and highlights the research focus on overcoming the challenge of significant fine-grained lepidolite losses during the flotation process. Through synthesis and discussion, the review also presents an outlook on the future development of lepidolite flotation technology. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable reference for advancing lepidolite flotation techniques, providing insights that enhance the efficient recovery and utilization of lithium resources, as well as the development of the new energy industry.