Brazilian Lithium Valley adopts Sensor-Based Sorting technology from STEINERT, aimed at enhancing spodumene concentration

In the heart of Brazil's Lithium Valley, the Jequitinhonha Valley, Companhia Brasileira de Lítio (CBL) is making waves in the mining industry with its latest innovation: the STEINERT KSS | CLI XT unit. This cutting-edge technology is transforming CBL's spodumene beneficiation circuit, delivering outstanding improvements in lithium metallurgical recovery.

The multisensor approach of the STEINERT KSS | CLI XT unit enables precise lithological discrimination, even when density differences are minimal. This precision is crucial for CBL, as one of its main challenges is ore dilution caused by the presence of schist, which impacts the quality of the final concentrate and lowers the efficiency of downstream processing stages. The sorting system, which identifies and separates material based on intrinsic physical properties such as atomic density, surface colour, particle shape, and brightness, enables real-time, high-precision removal of schist from spodumene-bearing ore.

The STEINERT KSS | CLI XT unit, installed at CBL, operates at a nominal capacity of 100 t/h and is fully dry, eliminating water usage and the need for tailings dams. This fully dry operation underscores CBL's commitment to responsible environmental practices, reducing water usage and the need for tailings dams.

Sensor-Based Sorting, also known as Ore Sorting, has been implemented by CBL as a pre-concentration stage to remove schist early, before the Dense Media Separation (DMS) stage. The goal of implementing Sensor-Based Sorting is to improve feed quality and process selectivity. The removal of over 95% of schist before the DMS stage ensures a cleaner, higher-grade feed, boosting DMS efficiency and maximizing overall lithium recovery.

The STEINERT KSS | CLI XT unit offers operational flexibility, allowing for multiple separation criteria and adjustable ejection logic to accommodate lithological variability and changing ore characteristics. This operational flexibility is essential for CBL, as it operates vertically from spodumene mining in Aracuaí, Brazil, to the chemical conversion of the concentrate at its industrial plant in Divisa Alegre (MG).

The partnership between CBL and STEINERT Latinoamericana includes ongoing technical support, remote monitoring, periodic visits, operational adjustments tailored to the process demands, mine and seasonal variations in operation. This partnership ensures the STEINERT KSS | CLI XT unit operates efficiently across a wider particle size range, adapting to ROM variations and production changes.

The introduction of the Ore Sorter reinforces CBL's commitment to sustainable mining, a model of operation that combines environmental responsibility, maximized mineral recovery, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. CBL supplies high-purity lithium products for battery, ceramic, glass, pharmaceutical, and lubricant industries, and its commitment to innovation and sustainability is evident in its continuous investment in technology and process improvement.

CBL, with the longest engagement in spodumene processing in Brazil and currently the only one producing lithium carbonate and hydroxide from the concentrate, collaborates technologically with Altmin in Brazil for lithium refining projects. The company's success in implementing the STEINERT KSS | CLI XT unit underscores its position as a leader in sustainable, technologically advanced lithium production.

Brazilian Lithium Valley adopts Sensor-Based Sorting technology from STEINERT, aimed at enhancing spodumene concentration