EXTRACTION OF LIHIUM FROM THE LEACHING OF BETA-ESPODUMENE WITH NaF-HCl, IN A CLOSED VESSEL

GUSTAVO D. ROSALES; FABIAN MAURE; MARÍA DEL C. RUIZ; MARIO H. RODRIGUEZ

San Luis

Congreso; XII Jornadas Argentinas de Tratamiento de Minerales; 2014

This paper presents the results of the dissolution tests of β-spodumene, in a closed vessel, using a mixture of HCl-NaF as leaching agent. The operational parameters under study were: temperature, reaction time and HCl concentration. In all cases it worked with a solid-liquid ratio of 1,82% w/v and a stirring speed of 330 rpm. The results showed that the better extraction values of lithium from β-spodumene, 75%, are achieved using a concentration of HCl of 18.4% v/v and concentration of NaF 3.3 w/v. Furthermore, it was also observed that increasing temperature and reaction time increases the lithium extraction efficiency.