Flotation recovery of vanadium from low-grade stone coal

Pre-concentration of vanadium from low-grade stone coal by the method of desliming-flotation was investigated. The mineral composition and microstructure of stone coal were studied systematically by means of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that selective separation of vanadium-bearing minerals can be achieved by flotation in acidic solution using melamine (EA). The final vanadium concentrate with V2O5 grade of 1.88% and recovery rate of 76.58% is obtained by desliming-flotation process and 72.51% of the raw ore is rejected as tailings. The pre-concentration of vanadium from low-grade stone coal can increase V2O5 grade and decrease the content of acid consuming minerals, which would enable economical utilization of metallurgical vanadium extraction technology.