LIU Yang1, TONG Xiong1,2,3*, LU Jin-fang1,2,3, XIE Xian1,2,3, FAN Pei-qiang1, SONG Qiang1

(1. Faculty of Land Research Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China;
2. Yunnan Province Engineering Research Center Center for Reutilization of Metal Tailing Resources, Kunming 650093, China;
3. State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources for Clean Utilization, Kunming 650093, China)

Abstract: As an important strategic mineral resource, the tin ore is widely used in military, aerospace and other fields. In recent years, the high-quality tin ore resources are gradually decreased, but the difficulty of cassiterite separation from ores is increased. Flotation is the main way to recover fine to micron grained cassiterite. However, the collectors, inhibitors, and unavoidable ions in the flotation separation have jointly affected the effectiveness of cassiterite flotation through the interaction of cassiterite and gangue minerals. Based on the current situation of comprehensive utilization of tin resources, in this paper, we have mainly introduced the mechanisms of interactions between cassiterite and various collectors of fatty acid, phosphonic acid, hydroxamic acid from the molecular point of view, summarized the influences of unavoidable ions on the cassiterite flotation, and discussed the action mechanisms of inhibitors on gangue minerals and cassiterite. It is believed that to research and develop new green reagents and to develop new joint separation technologies are important means for the efficient recovery of tin resources from ores in the future.

Keywords: cassiterite; collector; metal ion; inhibitor; mechanism of action

ACTA MINERALOGICA SINICA Vol. 43, No. 4, 2023, Page 441