Investigating of the recovery of lithium in boron waste by the combination of gravity and leaching methods

Approximately 55% of the Turkey's boron reserves are located in Kütahya-Emet region while 73% of the Earth's boron reserves are located in Turkey. Clay has rare earth elements such as lithium, rubidium, cesium etc which is a waste product of the process called boron ore production. The waste level can reach up to 50% in the production process. In this study, the lithium content of the wastes generated during the boron mineral enrichment process in the Kütahya-Emet region located in Turkey was examined and enrichment studies were carried out. The five separate waste samples which are taken out from the tailing dams of Hisarcık and Espey concentrators, -25 mm solid waste of the concentrators and the gypsum waste of the presscake exit of the 2. Boric Acid Factory. As the result of the analysis it has observed that the most appropriate examination location for production of lithium was the Hisarcık concentrator -25 mm solid waste outlet since the sample's lithium grade that was taken from the exit of the Hisarcık concentrators facility's -25 mm match sieve is between 648/588 ppm lithium grade. It was determined that 76% of the lithium in the sample taken was below 212 micron grain size and above 2 000 ppm lithium grade. The lithium efficiency and grade of the products were interpreted by Knelson gravity concentrator studies, roasting tests with NaCl-CaCl2 additives, and then mixing leaching studies in acid environment. In the Knelson gravity concentrator studies, wet sieved method of sample to -0.5 mm particle size was studied, 120 G force and 1 psi water pressure; 65.67% light product by weight, 77.38% Li efficiency light product with 2 398.60 ppm Li grade was obtained. By reworking the light product at 60 G 1 psi water pressure and Li-grade product of 2 475 ppm was obtained via pre-concentrate with a Li yield of 69.97%. In roasting studies of -0.5 mm grain size, Li yield of 77.26% was obtained by sample that was obtained by using NaCl (0.6)-CaCl2 (0.4) salts and roasting 9000C for an hour. It was observed that the Li yield in the solution was 89.61% by leaching the roasted the product with 0.4M H2SO4 for an hour. Roasting efficiency of 76.92% Li was determined as a result of roasting study performed under the same conditions with Knelson pre-concentrate, and the yield of lithium in solution was 77.18% by leaching the roasted sample under the same conditions.