Effects of different grinding media on the interfacial properties and flotation mechanism of lepidolite grinding products--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

a School of Mining and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, China
b Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Processing and Utilization of Strategic Metal Mineral Resources, Ganzhou, 341000, China
c Yichun Lithium New Energy Industry Research Institute, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Yichun, 336023, China

10.1016/j.partic.2026.01.029

Volume 111, April 2026, Pages 27-37

Received 2 December 2025, Revised 11 January 2026, Accepted 27 January 2026, Available online 4 February 2026, Version of Record 9 February 2026.

E-mail: liaoningning@jxust.edu.cn; caibin.wu@jxust.edu.cn

Highlights

• Demonstration that ceramic grinding minimizes surface iron contamination.

• Elucidation of how grinding media modify surface chemistry and particle morphology.

• Steel grinding boosts surface hydrophilicity, reducing collector adsorption.

• Three grinding methods guide lepidolite flotation theory.

Abstract

Grinding plays a fundamental role in determining flotation efficiency, as the morphology of grinding media directly influences mineral particle morphology and surface properties. This research systematically examines the impact of mill barrel materials and grinding media types on the flotation performance of lepidolite through comprehensive multi-scale characterization. Analytical results demonstrate that compared to conventional steel ball milling, ceramic ball milling generates products with coarser particle size distribution and substantially reduces the content of fine particles below 23 μm. Particularly noteworthy is the configuration combining ceramic mill barrel with ceramic balls (C + C), which effectively promotes the exposure of {001} cleavage planes, thereby significantly enhancing collector adsorption on mineral surfaces. SEM-EDS characterization identified substantial iron-rich flocculent coatings on particle surfaces processed in steel mill environments, whether using ceramic balls (S + C) or steel balls (S + S), which considerably hindered effective reagent adsorption. The C + C ground products exhibited the most pronounced positive potential shift upon collector addition, coupled with the lowest surface oxidation degree and minimal FeOOH formation. Comparative flotation tests ultimately verified that the C + C grinding approach enhanced lepidolite recovery by 10-20 % points. This work elucidates the interfacial mechanism through which media materials regulate cleavage plane exposure and iron contamination, providing a novel theoretical framework for media selection in silicate mineral processing. The findings offer crucial theoretical and practical guidance for optimizing grinding operations to improve lithium resource efficiency.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Lepidolite; Grinding medium; Ground products; Flotation; Surface properties

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