Enhancing lithium grade and recovery in conventional flotation cells via coarse particle flotation of lepidolite

Lithium has been designated a strategic and critical raw material by the European Union, reinforcing the need to develop domestic resources. The Beauvoir granite in France, enrich in lepidolite, a lithium bearing mica, represent of Europe’s most significant lithium resources. This study explores coarse particle flotation as an energy-efficient strategy to enhance lithium recovery while minimizing the need for intensive grinding. Flotation tests were conducted on deslimed samples with two feed size ranges (10–500 µm and 36–500 µm) using a conventional mechanical cell. The effects of pH, collector dosage, solids content, and cleaning stages on Li 2 O grade and recovery were evaluated. Optimal conditions were achieved at pH 2, 340 g/t of ether monoamine, and 20 % solids content, yielding a Li 2 O grade of 3.7 %. Further desliming (<36 µm) combined with a cleaner stage improved the grade to 4.5 % with a recovery of 74 %, meeting the specifications for downstream processing. Compared to finer particle flotation feeds, this approach reduced grinding energy consumption by 25 %. These findings demonstrate that coarse lepidolite flotation in conventional cells can deliver both improved lithium grade and recovery and significant energy savings, contributing to the sustainable development of Europe’s strategic lithium supply.