Resources (Jun 2024)

Biosurfactants: An Overview of Their Properties, Production, and Application in Mineral Flotation

  • Carolina Rossini Simões,
  • Matheus Willian Pereira da Silva,
  • Rodrigo Fernandes Magalhães de Souza,
  • Ronald Roja Hacha,
  • Antônio Gutierrez Merma,
  • Maurício Leonardo Torem,
  • Flávia Paulucci Cianga Silvas

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13060081
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 6
p. 81

Abstract

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The quest for sustainable mining processes has directed research towards environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional beneficiation practices, with biosurfactants emerging as a viable option due to their lower environmental impact. This study reviews the application of biosurfactants as bioreagents in mineral flotation, exploring their production, their mechanisms of action, and the sustainability benefits they offer. Methods include a decade-long text mining analysis of relevant literature, utilizing software tools like Zotero on platforms like Web of Science to extract and analyze data. The results underscore the growing interest in biosurfactants over the last ten years, highlighting their increasing relevance in industrial applications such as mineral flotation, where they replace synthetic surfactants. Particularly, biosurfactants have shown effectiveness in enhancing the froth flotation process, leading to more efficient mineral recovery while mitigating environmental harm. In conclusion, the adoption of biosurfactants in mineral processing not only aligns with sustainability goals but also demonstrates potential improvements in operational efficiency, offering a dual benefit of environmental protection and enhanced resource recovery.

Keywords