[ Application de la digestion acide sulfurique (H2SO4) à l’extraction du lithium à partir de la pegmatite à spodumène de Manono (RDC) ]
Volume 29, Issue 4, July 2020, Pages 1224–1232
Muliangala Mbalaba Franics1, Chungu Mwana Mwamba Yannick2, Nkulu Wa Ngoie Guy3, Ngenda Banka Richard4, and Kabongo Mwadianvita Hervé5
1 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
2 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
3 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
4 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
5 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2020 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
In this article we examine the sulfuric acid (H2SO4) digestion’s results followed by water leaching in the lithium extraction from Manono’s spodumene pegmatite (DRC). A pretreatment has been developed allowing the transformation of α-spodumene into less dense, more brittle and more reactive β-spodumene. The analysis of spodumene by ICP-MS and ED-XRF showed that our sample consists mainly of oxides of Li, Si, Al and K with an average LiO2 content of 3.5%. And binocular microscopy examination revealed the presence of spodumene as the main mineral species associated with quartz, lepidolite and muscovite. The reaction’s temperature (175, 200, 250 and 300°C) was studied for the digestion of calcined spodumene at temperatures ranging between 750 and 900°C. For each temperature, the reaction time (30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes) and the ore/acid ratio (1: 1, 5: 4, 3: 2 and 7: 4) were considered. A Taguchi approach was used to optimize the conditions and the experimental variables. And the MINITAB software was used for this purpose. The experimental conditions show that the degree of lithium extraction during sulfuric acid (H2SO4) digestion is significantly influenced by the ore/acid ratio, the temperature and reaction time. The results show that 90% of lithium in the sample calcined at 900°C was extracted with an ore/acid ratio of 3: 2, a reaction temperature of 250°C and a reaction time of 180 minutes.
Author Keywords: Lithium, pegmatite, spodumene, calcination, sulfuric acid (H2S04) digestion.
Volume 29, Issue 4, July 2020, Pages 1224–1232
Muliangala Mbalaba Franics1, Chungu Mwana Mwamba Yannick2, Nkulu Wa Ngoie Guy3, Ngenda Banka Richard4, and Kabongo Mwadianvita Hervé5
1 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
2 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
3 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
4 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
5 Départment de Métallurgie et Matériaux, Faculté Polytechnique, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut Katanga, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2020 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
In this article we examine the sulfuric acid (H2SO4) digestion’s results followed by water leaching in the lithium extraction from Manono’s spodumene pegmatite (DRC). A pretreatment has been developed allowing the transformation of α-spodumene into less dense, more brittle and more reactive β-spodumene. The analysis of spodumene by ICP-MS and ED-XRF showed that our sample consists mainly of oxides of Li, Si, Al and K with an average LiO2 content of 3.5%. And binocular microscopy examination revealed the presence of spodumene as the main mineral species associated with quartz, lepidolite and muscovite. The reaction’s temperature (175, 200, 250 and 300°C) was studied for the digestion of calcined spodumene at temperatures ranging between 750 and 900°C. For each temperature, the reaction time (30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes) and the ore/acid ratio (1: 1, 5: 4, 3: 2 and 7: 4) were considered. A Taguchi approach was used to optimize the conditions and the experimental variables. And the MINITAB software was used for this purpose. The experimental conditions show that the degree of lithium extraction during sulfuric acid (H2SO4) digestion is significantly influenced by the ore/acid ratio, the temperature and reaction time. The results show that 90% of lithium in the sample calcined at 900°C was extracted with an ore/acid ratio of 3: 2, a reaction temperature of 250°C and a reaction time of 180 minutes.
Author Keywords: Lithium, pegmatite, spodumene, calcination, sulfuric acid (H2S04) digestion.
Abstract: (french)
Dans cet article nous examinons les résultats d’une digestion acide sulfurique (H2SO4) suivie de la lixiviation à l’eau dans l’extraction du lithium à partir de la pegmatite à spodumène de Manono (RDC). Un prétraitement (calcination) a été développé permettant la transformation du α-spodumène en β-spodumène moins dense, plus friable et plus réactive. L’analyse du spodumène par ICP-MS et ED-XRF a montré que notre échantillon est constitué en majeure partie d’oxydes de Li, Si, Al et K avec une teneur moyenne en Li2O de 3.5%. Et l’examen par microscopie à vision binoculaire a relevé la présence du spodumène comme principale espèce minérale associée au quartz, lépidolite et à la muscovite. La température de la réaction (175, 200, 250 et 300°C) a été étudiée pour la digestion du spodumène calciné à des températures comprises entre 750 et 900 °C. Pour chaque température, le temps de réaction (30, 60, 120 et 180 min) et le ratio minerai/acide (1: 1, 5: 4, 3: 2 et 7: 4) ont été étudiés. Une approche de Taguchi a été utilisée pour optimiser les conditions et les variables expérimentales. Et à cet effet, le logiciel MINITAB a été utilisé. Les conditions expérimentales montrent que le degré d’extraction du lithium lors de la digestion acide sulfurique est significativement influencé par le ratio minerai/acide, la température et le temps de réaction. Notons que 90 % de lithium sur l’échantillon calciné à 900 °C ont été extrait avec un ratio minerai/acide de 3: 2, une température de réaction de 250 °C et un temps de réaction de 180 minutes.
Author Keywords: Lithium, pegmatite, spodumène, calcination, digestion acide sulfurique (H2S04).
How to Cite this Article
Muliangala Mbalaba Franics, Chungu Mwana Mwamba Yannick, Nkulu Wa Ngoie Guy, Ngenda Banka Richard, and Kabongo Mwadianvita Hervé, “Application of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) digestion to the lithium extraction from Manono’s spodumene pegmatite (DRC),” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 1224–1232, July 2020.
