Described herein is a method for the recovery of two major valuable lithium minerals (amblygonite and spodumene), a cesium mineral (pollucite) and quartz. The method comprises a series of direct flotation processes combined with reverse flotation processes that were designed to recover these lithium and cesium concentrates.

This invention relates to an integrated process for recovering value metals from sulphide ore which includes the steps of bulk sorting 16 and screening 24/28 crushed ore. The sorted/screened coarse ore stream is ground and classified 20 to provide a coarse fraction 34 suitable for coarse flotation and a first fine fraction 38 suitable for flotation. The coarse fraction suitable for coarse flotation is subjected to coarse flotation 36 thereby to obtain a gangue 42 and an intermediate concentrate 46. The intermediate concentrate is subjected to grinding 48 to provide a second fine fraction suitable for conventional flotation. The first fine fraction and the second fine fraction are subjected to conventional flotation 40 to provide a concentrate and tailings. This process that capitalizes on the natural heterogeneity of sulphide orebodies, and utilizes bulk sorting, screening and coarse flotation beneficiation technologies in a novel multistage configuration to reject the maximum quantity of waste gangue prior to fine comminution.

This invention relates to an integrated process for recovering value metals from sulphide ore which includes the steps of bulk sorting 16 and screening 24/28 crushed ore. The sorted/screened coarse ore stream is ground and classified 20 to provide a coarse fraction 34 suitable for coarse flotation and a first fine fraction 38 suitable for flotation. The coarse fraction suitable for coarse flotation is subjected to coarse flotation 36 thereby to obtain a gangue 42 and an intermediate concentrate 46. The intermediate concentrate is subjected to grinding 48 to provide a second fine fraction suitable for conventional flotation. The first fine fraction and the second fine fraction are subjected to conventional flotation 40 to provide a concentrate and tailings. This process that capitalizes on the natural heterogeneity of sulphide orebodies, and utilizes bulk sorting, screening and coarse flotation beneficiation technologies in a novel multistage configuration to reject the maximum quantity of waste gangue prior to fine comminution.

A stabilization process for an arsenic solution comprising thiosulfates, the process comprising: acidifying the arsenic solution to decompose the thiosulfates, to yield an acidified solution; oxidizing the acidified solution to oxidize residual As.sup.3+ to As.sup.5+ and reduced sulfur species to sulfates, to yield a slurry comprising elemental sulfur; separating elemental sulfur from the slurry to yield a liquid; oxidizing the liquid to oxidize residual reduced sulfur species, to yield an oxidized solution; and forming a stable arsenic compound from the oxidized solution.

A stabilization process for an arsenic solution comprising thiosulfates, the process comprising: acidifying the arsenic solution to decompose the thiosulfates, to yield an acidified solution; oxidizing the acidified solution to oxidize residual As.sup.3+ to As.sup.5+ and reduced sulfur species to sulfates, to yield a slurry comprising elemental sulfur; separating elemental sulfur from the slurry to yield a liquid; oxidizing the liquid to oxidize residual reduced sulfur species, to yield an oxidized solution; and forming a stable arsenic compound from the oxidized solution.

A system for separating competing anions from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a flow of water contaminated with PFAS and elevated levels of competing anions that includes a separation subsystem which receives the flow of water contaminated with PFAS and elevated levels of competing anions and separates competing anions from the PFAS and concentrates the PFAS to produce a treated flow of water having separated competing anions therein and a flow of water having a majority of PFAS therein. At least one anion exchange vessel having an anion exchange resin therein receives the flow of water having a majority of PFAS therein and removes PFAS from the water to produce a flow of treated water having a majority of the PFAS removed. The separation of competing anions by the separation subsystem increases the treatment capacity of the anion exchange resin to remove PFAS from the contaminated water.

There is provided methods for separating a target material from a raw material by mixing the raw material with water to form a slurry, adding a collector compound to the slurry to modify a relative hydrophobicity of a surface of the target material, adding a facilitator compound to enhance the modification of the relative hydrophobicity of the surface, and forming a froth including a concentrate of the target material. Disclosed methods may also include adding a facilitator compound to a raw material slurry that has been treated with a collector compound and a reagent for neutralizing the collector compound.

There is provided methods for separating a target material from a raw material by mixing the raw material with water to form a slurry, adding a collector compound to the slurry to modify a relative hydrophobicity of a surface of the target material, adding a facilitator compound to enhance the modification of the relative hydrophobicity of the surface, and forming a froth including a concentrate of the target material. Disclosed methods may also include adding a facilitator compound to a raw material slurry that has been treated with a collector compound and a reagent for neutralizing the collector compound.

A process is provided for separation of at least one metal sulfide from a mixed sulfide concentrate. The process includes: subjecting the mixed sulfide concentrate to flotation in which at least one sulfide including antimony, arsenic and a first metal is floated and at least one sulfide including a second metal is depressed. The flotation yields a first metal concentrate having the at least one sulfide including antimony, arsenic and the first metal and a second metal concentrate having the at least one sulfide including the second metal. The first metal concentrate is leached to yield a further concentrate and a leach solution. The further concentrate includes the first metal and the leach solution includes soluble antimony and soluble arsenic. The process further includes oxidizing the leach solution to yield an antimony precipitate and an arsenic solution, and forming a stable arsenic compound from the arsenic solution.

A process is provided for separation of at least one metal sulfide from a mixed sulfide concentrate. The process includes: subjecting the mixed sulfide concentrate to flotation in which at least one sulfide including antimony, arsenic and a first metal is floated and at least one sulfide including a second metal is depressed. The flotation yields a first metal concentrate having the at least one sulfide including antimony, arsenic and the first metal and a second metal concentrate having the at least one sulfide including the second metal. The first metal concentrate is leached to yield a further concentrate and a leach solution. The further concentrate includes the first metal and the leach solution includes soluble antimony and soluble arsenic. The process further includes oxidizing the leach solution to yield an antimony precipitate and an arsenic solution, and forming a stable arsenic compound from the arsenic solution.