A review of lepidolite flotation collectors: Fundamentals, applications and perspectives

The rapid advancement of modern science and technology, coupled with the recent surge in new-energy electric vehicles, has significantly boosted the demand for lithium. This has promoted the development and efficient utilization of lepidolite as a lithium source. Therefore, the processes for the flotation of lepidolite have been studied in depth, particularly the development and use of lepidolite flotation collectors and the action mechanism of the collectors on the lepidolite surface. Based on the crystal-structure characteristics of lepidolite minerals, this review focuses on the application of anionic collectors, amine cationic collectors (primary amines, quaternary ammonium salts, ether amines, and Gemini amines), and combined collectors to the flotation behavior of lepidolite as well as the adsorption mechanisms. New directions and technologies for the controllable flotation of lepidolite are proposed, including process improvement, reagent synthesis, and mechanistic research. This analysis demonstrates the need for the further study of the complex environment inside lepidolite and pulp. By using modern analytical detection methods and quantum chemical calculations, research on reagents for the flotation of lepidolite has expanded, providing new concepts and references for the efficient flotation recovery and utilization of lepidolite.