Pilot Test on Grinding and Calcining of Petalite

1. Test purpose:

A domestic customer wanted to obtain the test data of the highest lithium leaching rate of petalite under different calcination process conditions, determine the process route for extracting lithium from petalite, and provide data support for the design and selection of later industrial production lines. It was decided to conduct a 20-ton grinding and calcination pilot test on the ZK pilot test line. The grinding and calcination of petalite is a process involving multiple steps and parameter control.

2. Test process:

Raw material preparation: The raw material is petalite, which is a common lithium ore mineral with a lithium content generally between 1% and 3%. Petalite needs to be crushed to a certain particle size for subsequent grinding and calcination.

Raw material grinding: Raw material grinding is the process of further refining the crushed petalite into powder. The selection of grinding equipment needs to take into account the hardness and particle size distribution of the raw material, as well as the required powder fineness.

Calcination process: Calcination is the key step in the transformation of petalite powder into spodumene. The calcination temperature is generally controlled between 950-1100 degrees Celsius, which is the temperature range where the petalite crystal structure begins to become unstable and gradually transforms into spodumene. Within this temperature range, lithium ions and sodium ions migrate out of the petalite crystal structure and enter the surface layer of the crystal to form the structure of spodumene. The control of calcination time and temperature has an important influence on the quality and yield of spodumene.

Clinker grinding: Clinker grinding is to grind the calcined petalite clinker again to provide materials of suitable fineness for the next leaching process. During the grinding process, attention should be paid to the operating efficiency and energy consumption of the equipment, as well as the collection and treatment of dust.

3. Test host equipment:

In summary, the grinding and calcining of petalite is a process that requires strict control of parameters and attention to environmental protection and energy efficiency. By optimizing equipment and process parameters, the leaching rate and output of lithium elements can be increased, while reducing production costs and environmental pollution.

In order to meet customer process requirements, reduce R&D costs, and improve the success rate of industrial production, Henan Zhengzhou Minning Machinery Co., Ltd. has designed and built a pilot production line based on the test conditions of different production processes. It can carry out process research such as crushing, grinding, mixing, granulation, calcination, etc. of various raw materials and is equipped with dust and exhaust gas treatment devices. The entire set of pilot line process production process is the same as that of large-scale industrial production lines. It has the advantages of a wide range of processes, high degree of intelligence, less environmental pollution and less energy consumption.