An Overview of Applications and Types of Flotation Reagents: Performance, Efficiency and Optimization

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 1020

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratório de Tecnologia Mineral e Ambiental (LTM), Departamento de Engenharia de Minas, PPGE3M, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
Interests: interfacial phenomena in mineral processing; froth flotation; solid–liquid separation; nanobubble generation and applications; water and wastewater treatment

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Guest Editor
Laboratório de Tecnologia Mineral e Ambiental (LTM-PPGE3M), Departamento de Engenharia de Minas (DEMIN), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil
Interests: froth flotation; gas dispersion parameters in flotation cells; dissolved air flotation; solid–liquid separation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Flotation is a pivotal process in mineral processing, allowing for the concentration of valuable minerals from ores. This abstract presents a concise overview of the application, types, performance, efficiency and optimization of flotation reagents, with a focus on improving the separation of minerals, especially in challenging ore compositions. Additionally, it highlights the emergence of eco-friendly reagents to promote sustainability in the mineral industry.

Flotation reagents, encompassing collectors, frothers, modifiers and dispersants, enable the selective collection of valuable mineral particles via air bubbles, separating them from gangue minerals. The effectiveness of these reagents significantly impacts the metallurgical efficiency (grade–recovery curve). Optimization strategies consider factors such as reagent dosage, water quality, particle size and ore mineralogy to achieve desired outcomes.

In the context of challenging ore compositions, where multiple valuable minerals coexist, selecting suitable reagents becomes critical to improving separation efficiency and reducing operational costs. Researchers have been actively exploring alternative reagents that can better address the complexities of such ores.

While efficiency remains a primary concern, the growing interest in sustainability has led to the development of eco-friendly flotation reagents. Biodegradable collectors and frothers, along with less toxic options, are gaining importance due to their reduced environmental impact and enhanced safety for personnel.

This abstract underscores the significance of efficient flotation reagents in mineral processing, especially for separating minerals in complex ores. This Special Issue in the Minerals journal showcases the latest advancements and innovations in flotation reagents, encompassing both improved performance and a commitment to sustainability within the mining industry.

Dr. André C. Azevedo
Dr. Rafael Teixeira Rodrigues
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • flotation reagents
  • mineral processing
  • efficiency
  • sustainability
  • complex ores

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 2457 KiB  
Article
Interactions of Acetylene-Derived Thioester Collectors with Gold Surfaces: A First-Principles Study
by Xianyang Qiu, Yuechao Qi, Dezhou Wei, Faming Zhang and Chenghang Wang
Minerals 2024, 14(3), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14030238 - 26 Feb 2024
Viewed by 655
Abstract
The high reactivity of the acetylene group enables the formation of strong chemical bonds with active sites on mineral surfaces, thereby improving the flotation performance of gold minerals. This study utilized density functional theory (DFT) to analyze the quantum chemical parameters of structure, [...] Read more.
The high reactivity of the acetylene group enables the formation of strong chemical bonds with active sites on mineral surfaces, thereby improving the flotation performance of gold minerals. This study utilized density functional theory (DFT) to analyze the quantum chemical parameters of structure, Mulliken population, and the frontier orbitals of a thioester collector containing an acetylene group, PDEC (prop-2-yn-1-yl diethylcarbamodithioate). PDEC was compared with analogous thioester collectors Z-200 and Al-DECDT. The interaction mechanism of PDEC on the Au(1 1 1) surface was simulated, followed by empirical validation through adsorption experiments. The findings indicate that the S atom of PDEC in the carbon–sulfur group exhibits shorter covalent bond lengths, and has reduced carbon–sulfur double bonds and Mulliken population, resulting in enhanced electron localization. This confers greater selectivity to PDEC during its adsorption on mineral surfaces. Frontier orbital analysis shows that the electrons of the acetylene group possess a notable electron-accepting capacity, significantly influencing the frontier orbital energy of PDEC and playing a pivotal role in the bonding interaction with mineral surfaces. Both the S atom in the carbon–sulfur group and its acetylene group establish stable adsorption structures with the A(111) surface in a single coordination mode. The adsorption energy sequence is PDEC > Al-DECDT > Z-200. Partial density of states demonstrates that the S 3p orbit of the carbon–sulfur group hybridizes with the Au 5d orbit, while the C 2p orbit of the acetylene group engages in weaker back-donation bonding with the Au 5d orbit. This is corroborated by the electron density difference and post-adsorption Mulliken population analyses, revealing that the S atom of the carbon–sulfur group in PDEC donates electrons to the Au atom, forming dominant positive coordination bonds, whereas the acetylene group accepts partial electrons from the Au atom, resulting in weaker back-donation bonds. The adsorption experiments align with the DFT adsorption energy results. Full article
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