Minerals (Sep 2023)

Recent Progress on Chelating Reagents in Flotation of Zinc Oxide Ores: A Review

  • Zhengyong Song,
  • Shuming Wen,
  • Guang Han,
  • Qicheng Feng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/min13101278
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 10
p. 1278

Abstract

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Zinc oxide minerals (primarily smithsonite and hemimorphite) are important sources of Zn. Flotation is the most widely used method of enriching zinc oxide minerals for mineral processing. Chelating reagents have received extensive attention for the flotation of zinc oxide ores because of their high selectivity and stability. This paper systematically summarizes the selective separation performance and mechanisms of various chelating reagents as collectors, activators, and depressants in the flotation of zinc oxide ores. The types and mechanisms of chelating reagents in the flotation of zinc oxide ores are discussed, providing new ideas for the development of efficient flotation reagents for zinc oxide ores.

Keywords