@Rupfel
Yes I do have pictures of comparisons of PLS and AJM product from when they were stored side by side in the shared Qube shed. I shared them previously, as I'd hope even you admit I always attempt to be as transparent as possible.
I would also hope you would trust me in that the colour difference was due to the different reagent used. We all know PLS also has a much higher proportion of fines in their "blended" product than AJM produced. It is my understanding that PLS has tested ore from the former AJM pit and plan to use their flotation agent at Ngungaju.
I really don't know where you are hearing about Hydrogen Sulfide gas coming from PLS Spodumene Concentrate and in particular the danger of shipping. I have heard nothing of a "smell" being a deterrent to offtakers. PLS certainly does not have a problem moving product.
I wonder if there has been some confusion about recently announced plans to investigate production of a midstream Lithium Sulfate product and if some have heard Sulfuric acid is used and there has been conflation leading to confusion about Spodumene Concentrate. Perhaps people see Sulfur and think ohhh yeah that's part of "rotten egg" smell when combined with Hydrogen.
I am not aware of any customer complaints regarding smell or H2S in particular.
Spodumene Converters typically start with Calcination. In basic terms this involves Decrepitation whereby SC is heated to circa 1050°C to "shatter" the crystals, changing them from alpha to beta form. Roasting then occurs with Sulfuric acid typically used to extract the Li from the SC into an intermediary solution known as Lithium Sulfate. From there it is converted to LiOH.H2O or other desired Li Chemicals.
Here is an example of a converter flowsheet.
Perhaps this will help you understand why your grapevine rumours and concerns PLS sells a SC with high levels of H2S baffles me.
As for Fe (Iron), this is more a headache from a processing point of view for converters than something that is retained from SC through to final LiOH.H2O making it substandard.
If you are hearing that ShanShan's Hunan Yongshan converter is having difficulty with quality, I would be inclined to believe that would have more to do with a new plant in commissioning or ramp up phase.
Perhaps you have some sort of evidence to support your claims.
