Minerals Engineering最新文献

{"title":"Surface microbubble nucleation in bulk nano/microbubble water and its impacts on flotation","authors":"Ming Xu ,&nbsp;Haijun Zhang ,&nbsp;Fanfan Zhang ,&nbsp;Martin Rudolph","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109853","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109853","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The high Laplace pressure of bulk nano/microbubbles drives air molecules to dissolve into the surrounding liquid, thereby creating an air-oversaturated environment that promotes the nucleation of surface microbubbles on mineral surfaces. In this study, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the bulk nano/microbubble water was measured. Microflotation tests were carried out using graphite, quartz, and esterified quartz particles. Bubble collision and pick-up experiments were performed to evaluate particle floatability with and without surface bubble nucleation. Additionally, the nucleation and growth of individual microbubbles at artificial microcavities under hydrodynamic conditions were recorded using a microscopic camera. The flotation, bubble collision, and pick-up experiments confirmed that surface microbubbles promote particle attachment to carrier bubbles and facilitate the formation of agglomerations, thereby improving flotation recovery. Pick-up experiments further revealed that the contact length of surface microbubbles on particle surfaces is a critical factor governing particle-bubble attachment. Notably, the presence of microbubbles on hydrophilic particles was found to hinder their flotation. Microscopic observations revealed a faster increase in the contact length of surface microbubbles and a longer bubble growth time on hydrophobic surfaces compared to hydrophilic ones. These differences are key factors contributing to the enhanced flotation selectivity of hydrophobic particles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109853"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An integrated study on pyrolysis, flotation, and leaching for optimized recycling of industrial battery materials","authors":"Gulsah Tas,&nbsp;Jere Vänskä,&nbsp;Natalia Araya-Gomez,&nbsp;Jere Partinen,&nbsp;Anna Klemettinen,&nbsp;Mari Lundström,&nbsp;Rodrigo Serna-Guerrero","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109839","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109839","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to support the global efforts in reducing carbon emissions have also made necessary the search for more efficient battery recycling technologies to prevent the depletion of raw materials. Pyrolysis, flotation and leaching are potential recycling unit processes that have recently drawn the attention as pretreatment, separation and dissolution methods in processes aimed at the recovery of materials from spent batteries. However, a study which systematically investigates the advantages and limitations resulting from the integration of these operations is still missing. In this work, an integrated experimental approach was applied to evaluate the recycling efficiency of pyrolysis, flotation and leaching together with their various combinations for the treatment of an industrially produced black mass. The results show that pyrolysis decreased the presence of cathode material in the graphite concentrate, increasing graphite purity from 60 to 80 %, although with a negative impact on graphite recovery from 60 to 50 %. Furthermore, the use of pyrolysis increased the leaching yield of metals from 40 to above 80 %. Additionally, the leaching yields of Ni and Co were further increased by nearly 5 % when flotation was applied, even without pyrolysis. With the combination of pyrolysis and flotation prior to leaching, an increased dissolution yield of metals from black mass was found for all the metals, particularly Ni (from 13.7 g/L to 19.8 g/L). The sole exception to this trend was Li, likely due to its dissolution in the flotation water. A rationalized explanation of this behavior is presented, supported by the characterization of the feed and product materials obtained under each different scenario. This work thus demonstrates that properly designed recycling stages can have a tangible impact in the process efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109839"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145324519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Activating silicic gangue tailings via high-Ca/Si ratio all-solid-waste cementitious materials: constructing low-carbon, high-performance cemented backfill and mechanisms","authors":"Kexin Li ,&nbsp;Jun Yao ,&nbsp;Xiangmei Li ,&nbsp;Shuqin Li ,&nbsp;Ning Min ,&nbsp;Zehai Li ,&nbsp;Xilin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109847","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109847","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The incorporation of high-silica silicic gangue tailings into ordinary Portland cement (OPC) backfill significantly depresses the Ca/Si ratio, which inhibits the formation of strength-giving hydration products like C-S-H gel and leads to poor mechanical properties. To resolve this fundamental issue, this study pioneers a high-Ca/Si ratio design via a novel “waste-treats-waste” strategy. A novel high Ca/Si ratio all-solid waste-based cementitious material (ACM)—synthesized from blast furnace slag, steel slag, carbide slag, and gypsum (Ca/Si = 2.95)—was integrated with iron tailings (IOT) and nickel smelting slag (NSS) to establish a fully waste-derived backfill system. Through systematic optimization of slurry concentration (74–80 %) and binder-to-tailings ratios (1:2–1:8), the hydration dynamics, mechanical performance, and environmental safety were evaluated. Key findings include: (1) The tailored Ca/Si ratio (2.0–3.0) activated silicic components in tailings via alkaline dissolution and Ca²⁺-mediated depolymerization, promoting dense C-(A)-S-H/AFt gel networks. (2) The 28-day unconfined compressive strength (UCS) reached 3.66 MPa (IOT) and 3.55 MPa (NSS) at 76 % slurry concentration and 1:6 binder ratio, surpassing conventional cement-based systems by 15–30 %. (3) Elevated Ca/Si ratios enhanced environmental safety, suppressing heavy metal leaching (compliant with GB/T 14848–2017) while reducing CO₂ emissions by 92 % and material costs by 60 % compared to cement. (4) NSS exhibited self-compacting microstructures (fractal dimension D = 1.84) with exceptional stability (settling rate ≤ 2.2 %), whereas IOT achieved optimal hydration at 76 % concentration. The study resolves critical bottlenecks in ultrafine tailings utilization, offering a scalable “waste-treats-waste” solution for low-carbon mining. Limitations in Fe leaching thresholds (IOT76-18) and thermal management strategies warrant further machine learning-driven optimization. This work pioneers a paradigm for multi-waste synergy, balancing mechanical robustness, eco-efficiency, and industrial feasibility in backfill engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109847"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficient lithium recovery from aluminum electrolytic slag via HCl solution: Leaching behavior and mechanism","authors":"Xi Chao,&nbsp;Guannan Li,&nbsp;Hefeng Yuan,&nbsp;Li Cui,&nbsp;Lijuan Wang,&nbsp;Fangqin Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109848","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109848","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the continuous growth of global demand for lithium (Li) resources, developing efficient methods for recovering Li from industrial waste is of great significance. Aluminum electrolytic slag (AES) is a hazardous waste produced during the electrolytic aluminum process, containing approximately 1.0–2.7 % lithium, which has a certain value for Li extraction and environmental benefits. This study investigated the Li extraction process via direct HCl leaching with AES as the raw material. Additionally, the changes of phase, microstructure and element distribution of AES before and after leaching were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and other analytical methods. Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the reaction mechanisms during the leaching process were revealed, elucidating the key reaction steps and influencing factors. By modifying variables like AES particle size, HCl concentration, leaching temperature, and leaching time, the conditions for the Li extraction process were improved. The results show that under the optimal conditions of a particle size below 180 mesh, 6 mol/L HCl, 95 °C, 2 h, and a solid–liquid ratio (S/L) of 1:3 g/mL, the highest Li leaching efficiency reaches 95.22 %. The main phase compositions of the leaching residue are Na₂SiF₆, Na₅Al₃F₁₄, Al₂O₃, CaF₂, and C. This work provides an efficient approach for extracting Li from AES, which is expected to promote the sustainable utilization of Li resources and the high-value utilization of lithium-containing secondary resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109848"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research on strengthening mechanism of microwave on magnetization transformation of Bayan Obo iron ore","authors":"Fanzichu Jiang ,&nbsp;Yizhong Yuan ,&nbsp;Tao Liu ,&nbsp;Yimin Zhang ,&nbsp;Qian Wan","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109845","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109845","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a comparative analysis of the microwave magnetization roasting (MR) versus conventional magnetization roasting (CR) for Bayan Obo iron ore, aiming to elucidate the enhancement mechanism associated with microwave treatment. In CR, an iron concentrate was achieved with an iron grade of 63.95 % and an iron recovery of 90.01 %, whereas in MR, the iron concentrate yielded an iron grade of 63.34 % with an iron recovery of 90.26 %. Notably, MR attained comparable performances at a roasting temperature that was 50 °C lower (700 °C compared to 750 °C) and a duration that was 10 min shorter (20 min versus 30 min). Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy revealed that MR samples exhibit a greater number of pores and cracks, particularly in the iron-containing minerals, alongside a more efficient reduction of Fe₂O₃ compared to CR samples. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer measurements revealed a higher saturation magnetization intensity in the MR sample. Pure mineral experiments demonstrated through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) that MR facilitated a more complete magnetization transformation from Fe₂O₃ to Fe₃O₄ at a lower temperature and within a shorter time frame. Based on calculations of lattice parameters derived from XRD analysis and transmission electron microscopic analysis, it was suggested that MR produced Fe₃O₄ with larger lattice parameters. The reduction kinetics of CR is best fitted using the geometric shrinkage model (R₂), while the MR process is best described using the diffusion model (D₈). The activation energies are 53.94 kJ·mol⁻¹ and 25.99 kJ·mol⁻¹, respectively. MR exhibits significantly lower energy barriers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109845"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel framework for analysing bubble-particle collision efficiency with realistic mineral shapes: theory, simulation, and database development","authors":"Guihua Zheng ,&nbsp;Anh V. Nguyen ,&nbsp;Tuan A.H. Nguyen ,&nbsp;Ngoc N. Nguyen ,&nbsp;Liqiang Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bubble–particle collision is a critical step in mineral flotation, yet most existing models assume spherical particles, failing to capture the complexity of real mineral systems. With recent advances in imaging and artificial intelligence, there is a growing need for theoretical models that account for non-spherical particle shapes. This study presents a novel analysis framework that incorporates particle shape into numerical simulations of bubble–particle collisions. Key shape descriptors − sphericity and contact-point effective diameter − are introduced into the extended Basset–Boussinesq–Oseen (BBO) equation, which is solved using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method to quantify collision efficiency (<em>E_c</em>) and the maximum collision angle (<em>φ_m</em>). The model is extended from idealised spheres to mineral particles with realistic morphology by linking crystal habit to crystallographic structure, enabling mineralogical interpretation of shape effects. Results show that <em>E_c</em> is primarily governed by the effective diameter at the point of contact − associated with interceptional collision mechanisms − while variations in sphericity (affecting drag) play a secondary role. A strong linear relationship is observed between <em>E_c</em> and effective diameter. Parametric studies further explore the influence of particle size, density, bubble size, and surface mobility (Stokes vs. potential flow conditions). Importantly, this work establishes the first mineral-specific collision efficiency database based on realistic particle geometries and densities. The database development methodology, potential applications in flotation process modelling, and integration with deep learning for predictive analytics are discussed in detail. This framework offers new insights into the role of particle shape in flotation, providing a foundation for more accurate predictive models and the design of more efficient flotation systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109831"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Weathering processes and critical minerals distribution in VMS tailings from Storwartz, Norway","authors":"Nikita Malafeevskiy,&nbsp;Eilif Kongssund,&nbsp;Rune B. Larsen,&nbsp;Kurt Aasly","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Historical mining activities have left behind substantial amount of sulfidic mine tailings that present major environmental and human health risks. These tailings were disposed of using inadequate disposal practices. A thorough understanding of the chemical and mineralogical composition of these tailings is crucial for assessing their environmental impact and devising effective remediation strategies. This knowledge can help transform these tailings from waste into valuable secondary resources. The historical Storwartz mine tailings are located in the prolific Røros mining district, Norway with over 300 years of mining history and are part of a UNESCO heritage site. The tailings result from flotation of volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VMS) ores from the beginning of the 20th century and were disposed indiscriminately near the processing plant. This has resulted in extensive weathering of the tailings and decades of acid rock drainage seeping into the lake Djupsjøen several kilometers downstream. This study, focusing on the mineralogy, explores the alterations and current composition of the tailings including their content of critical raw materials and models the basic processes impacting the composition as a result of low temperature weathering. Results show that the tailings have a highly variable composition in 1 m intervals of push core samples. Economically important elements such as zinc, copper, and cobalt reach concentrations of up to 2.8 wt%, 0.5 wt%, and 145 ppm respectively. For environmentally concerning elements, lead is present at concentrations of up to 2470 ppm in some samples. Mineralogically, the tailings are predominantly composed of quartz and chamosite (up to 70 wt% of modal mineralogy), with minor amounts of albite, k-feldspar, biotite, garnet and sulfides. Sulfide minerals, including pyrrhotite, pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite, are restricted to the deeper, unoxidized layers of the tailings, with notable enrichment at the transition zone between oxidized and unoxidized tailings in the cores. This mineralogical zonation reflects progressive sulfide oxidation, carbonate dissolution and silicates consumption driven by fluctuating redox conditions and water table dynamics. While it is unlikely that the Storwartz mine tailings will be reprocessed due to their modest volume (less than 1 Mt) and UNESCO heritage status, the knowledge gained from this study provides valuable insights into the mineralogy and post-production history of tailings worldwide. On a global scale, our study demonstrates the environmental impact and the potential revalorization of unsupervised historical tailing deposits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109830"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fluid dynamics study of bubble–liquid interaction mechanism in laboratory scale aerated mechanical stirring tank for leaching via CLSVOF method","authors":"Kui Lai,&nbsp;Shiliang Yang,&nbsp;Hua Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A comprehensive understanding of the bubble dynamic behaviors and fluid characteristics in aerated mechanical stirring tank is essential for improving leaching rates. This study combines the coupled level set and volume of fluid (CLSVOF) model with the realizable <em>k-ɛ</em> model to numerically simulate bubble dynamics in aerated mechanical stirred tanks. Following model validation, the investigation focuses on exploring the effects of impeller-induced disturbances on bubble behavior across different impeller types, the bubble motion, and the statistical characteristics of bubble properties. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) Significant bubble adhesion or trailing phenomena are observed on the back of blades in both the 6-blade disk turbine (DT) and the upward-inclined blade disk turbine (IDT-U). Due to the downward velocity component of the fluid discharged by the downward inclined blade disk turbine (IDT-D), only a small number of small-scale bubbles adhere to the back of the blade; (2) The streamlined structure of the 6-parabolic blade disk turbine (PDT) blades and the angled design of the IDT-D and IDT-U blades result in smaller vortex sizes behind these blades compared to the DT blades; (3) The two large-scale vortices located below the impeller height cause bubbles to accumulate in this region. The bubble accumulation area of IDT-U is larger than that of the DT, PDT, and IDT-D conditions; (4) Overall, at the rotation speed of 600 rpm used in this study, the PDT demonstrates better bubble dispersion and fragmentation. The PDT is especially indicated in contexts where the leaching rate is governed by mass transfer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109826"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Slag to product: Unlocking titanium-bearing slag value via selective leaching of amorphous titanium phase","authors":"Shaokai Cheng ,&nbsp;James Vaughan ,&nbsp;Guoxiong Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaodong Ma ,&nbsp;Xueming Lyu ,&nbsp;Hong Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109846","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109846","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Titanium-bearing blast furnace slag (TBFS) is a valuable solid waste produced during ironmaking using titanium-bearing iron ores. However, its complex chemical composition and limited pre-processing methods restrict the efficient utilization of TBFS, especially under increasingly stringent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements. In this study, we assess organic acid activation combined with commonly-used HCl and NaOH leaching processes to partially dissolve the slag with a medium grade of 23.5% TiO₂, which is upgraded to 44.3% TiO₂ in the leaching residue. The results revealed that the amorphous titanium-bearing glass phase was preferentially dissolved during leaching, while the crystalline perovskite structure was retained due to its chemical stability. In addition, the alkaline wash liquor is almost pure silicon solution which can be used as feed for producing high purity zeolites as commercial products. This Slag to Product strategy can almost utilize all leaching liquor and leaching residue which provide the closed-loop direction for utilization of TBFS for high valued products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109846"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145324521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmentally friendly reverse flotation of ilmenite from chlorite using polycarboxylate ether/corn starch: Selective depression and surface adsorption mechanism","authors":"Jizong Wu ,&nbsp;Baoyu Cui ,&nbsp;Yunhai Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, reverse flotation was employed to separate ilmenite from chlorite under alkaline conditions (pH = 10 ± 0.2), using environmentally friendly polycarboxylate ether (PCE) and corn starch (CS) as combined depressants, and low-toxicity cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the collector. Micro-flotation tests showed that PCE/CS selectively inhibited ilmenite without affecting the floatability of chlorite. An ilmenite concentrate with 49.44 % TiO₂ grade and 89.56 % recovery was obtained from artificially mixed minerals at an optimal PCE/CS concentration of 40 mg/L and CTAB concentration of 30 mg/L. Contact angle, FTIR, XPS, and ToF-SIMS analyses confirmed that PCE/CS chemically adsorbed onto Fe and Ti sites on the ilmenite surface, enhancing hydrophilicity and hindering CTAB adsorption. Meanwhile, CTAB adsorption on chlorite was promoted. These interactions increased the hydrophobicity difference between ilmenite and chlorite, enabling efficient reverse flotation separation. This work provides a green and selective reverse flotation strategy for the separation of ilmenite from silicate gangue minerals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 109815"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145325561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}