Pub Date : 2026-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110150
Indraneela Pradhan, Swagat S. Rath, Suchismita Senapati, Shivakumar Angadi
Beach sand minerals (BSMs), which encase ilmenite, rutile, monazite, zircon, garnet, and sillimanite, are a crucial class of heavy minerals widely utilized in high-tech industries, such as nuclear energy, aerospace, electronics, and advanced ceramics. Generally, units involving gravity, magnetic, electrostatic, and flotation-based separation are integrated in BSM beneficiation, with particle size distribution, mineralogical associations, and equivalent mineral properties as the principal factors controlling separation efficiency. Gravity concentration is the most economical preconcentration route; however, its efficiency declines for fine particle sizes, necessitating the use of multi-gravity separators. Similarly, electrostatic and magnetic separation are sensitive to the feed moisture content and surface contamination, requiring pretreatment. Flotation, which is the preferred unit for enhancing the grade, is controlled by factors such as surface chemistry, water quality, pH, and dissolved ion concentration. This review highlights the global physical and physicochemical beneficiation strategies for processing BSMs and critically evaluates mineral-specific flowsheets and recent advances, taking into account sustainability and cost considerations. This work integrates all these findings, highlights the key gaps, and recommends the future roadmap.
{"title":"A comprehensive review of beneficiation strategies for beach sand minerals","authors":"Indraneela Pradhan, Swagat S. Rath, Suchismita Senapati, Shivakumar Angadi","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110150","url":null,"abstract":"Beach sand minerals (BSMs), which encase ilmenite, rutile, monazite, zircon, garnet, and sillimanite, are a crucial class of heavy minerals widely utilized in high-tech industries, such as nuclear energy, aerospace, electronics, and advanced ceramics. Generally, units involving gravity, magnetic, electrostatic, and flotation-based separation are integrated in BSM beneficiation, with particle size distribution, mineralogical associations, and equivalent mineral properties as the principal factors controlling separation efficiency. Gravity concentration is the most economical preconcentration route; however, its efficiency declines for fine particle sizes, necessitating the use of multi-gravity separators. Similarly, electrostatic and magnetic separation are sensitive to the feed moisture content and surface contamination, requiring pretreatment. Flotation, which is the preferred unit for enhancing the grade, is controlled by factors such as surface chemistry, water quality, pH, and dissolved ion concentration. This review highlights the global physical and physicochemical beneficiation strategies for processing BSMs and critically evaluates mineral-specific flowsheets and recent advances, taking into account sustainability and cost considerations. This work integrates all these findings, highlights the key gaps, and recommends the future roadmap.","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146209449","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110165
Jianqiu Qin, Shaoying Li, Beining Liu, Liucheng Zhao, Shoucheng Ji, Dingding Li
Phosphate ore is a strategic resource critical for food security and new energy. With the gradual depletion of high-grade deposits, the efficient beneficiation of low-grade, refractory phosphate ore has become imperative. Froth flotation has become the mainstream technology for processing low-grade phosphate ore due to its outstanding advantages. This review systematically summarizes recent research progress, focusing on two core directions of phosphate ore flotation: the optimization of flotation reagent schemes and the interface action mechanism. It aims to provide insights to facilitate breakthroughs and industrial applications in efficient processing of low-grade phosphate ore. In reagent optimization, collectors have been advanced through structural modification, synergistic compounding, and functional expansion of traditional reagents, along with the development of novel, highly selective, and eco-friendly alternatives. For depressants, inorganic types have been refined to enhanc selectivity and reduced pH sensitivity, while organic depressants have been engineered for targeted effectiveness. The modification of regulators focuses on the compatibility with minerals and the synergistic reaction with other reagents to improve the efficiency of mineral flotation. Interfacial mechanism analysis reveals that reagent adsorption onto mineral surfaces includes three types: chemical, physical, and hemimicelle adsorption, each with distinct characteristics and jointly affecting the separation effect. Flotation efficiency is collectively governed by mineral surface wettability, surface charge, and chemical composition. Molecular simulation technology provides the laws of interface interactions at the microscopic level, offering theoretical guidance for reagent design and process optimization. The evolution of this field has progressed from initial exploration and technological deepening to the current era of green and precision flotation. Current challenges include inadequate adaptability to complex mineral assemblages and a translational gap between laboratory research and industrial applications. Future efforts should focus on the development of green reagents, real-time analysis of dynamic interfacial processes, integration of molecular simulation with industrial data, and tailored reagents for recycling phosphate-bearing solid wastes, thereby advancing the flotation technology towards greater efficiency and sustainability.
{"title":"Research progress on optimization of flotation reagent system and interface action mechanism for phosphate ore","authors":"Jianqiu Qin, Shaoying Li, Beining Liu, Liucheng Zhao, Shoucheng Ji, Dingding Li","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110165","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110165","url":null,"abstract":"Phosphate ore is a strategic resource critical for food security and new energy. With the gradual depletion of high-grade deposits, the efficient beneficiation of low-grade, refractory phosphate ore has become imperative. Froth flotation has become the mainstream technology for processing low-grade phosphate ore due to its outstanding advantages. This review systematically summarizes recent research progress, focusing on two core directions of phosphate ore flotation: the optimization of flotation reagent schemes and the interface action mechanism. It aims to provide insights to facilitate breakthroughs and industrial applications in efficient processing of low-grade phosphate ore. In reagent optimization, collectors have been advanced through structural modification, synergistic compounding, and functional expansion of traditional reagents, along with the development of novel, highly selective, and eco-friendly alternatives. For depressants, inorganic types have been refined to enhanc selectivity and reduced pH sensitivity, while organic depressants have been engineered for targeted effectiveness. The modification of regulators focuses on the compatibility with minerals and the synergistic reaction with other reagents to improve the efficiency of mineral flotation. Interfacial mechanism analysis reveals that reagent adsorption onto mineral surfaces includes three types: chemical, physical, and hemimicelle adsorption, each with distinct characteristics and jointly affecting the separation effect. Flotation efficiency is collectively governed by mineral surface wettability, surface charge, and chemical composition. Molecular simulation technology provides the laws of interface interactions at the microscopic level, offering theoretical guidance for reagent design and process optimization. The evolution of this field has progressed from initial exploration and technological deepening to the current era of green and precision flotation. Current challenges include inadequate adaptability to complex mineral assemblages and a translational gap between laboratory research and industrial applications. Future efforts should focus on the development of green reagents, real-time analysis of dynamic interfacial processes, integration of molecular simulation with industrial data, and tailored reagents for recycling phosphate-bearing solid wastes, thereby advancing the flotation technology towards greater efficiency and sustainability.","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146209444","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}
To elucidate the intrinsic mechanisms underlying the differences in floatability among stibnite of differing genesis, this study selected three representative types: carbonate sedimentary-modified layer-controlled (QH-1), medium and low-temperature hydrothermal (QH-2), and ultrashallow–shallow low-temperature hydrothermal (QH-3) stibnite. The flotation behaviors of these types in the presence of ammonium dibutyl dithiophosphate (ADD) were systematically examined through integrated surface analysis techniques combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This approach revealed the fundamental mechanisms driving behavioral differences at the micro level. Owing to distinct mineralization backgrounds, QH-1, QH-2, and QH-3 exhibited different dominant crystal planes, specifically (1 –4 −1), (0 0 –1), and (4 1 0), respectively, along with varying surface properties. Under flotation conditions of pH 6 and an ADD concentration of 9 × 10−4 mol/L, the recovery rates for the three stibnite types were 63.6% (QH-2), 60.2% (QH-1), and 58.7% (QH-3). Further characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy indicated that ADD formed a uniform and dense adsorption layer on the (0 0 –1) crystal plane with the highest interaction intensity. However, on the (4 1 0) crystal plane, adsorption was sparse and mainly relied on physical adsorption. The DFT calculations further indicated that the adsorption energy of the (0 0 –1) crystal plane with ADD was the lowest (−2.5241 eV), representing enhanced chemical adsorption. From the perspective of “genesis-crystal plane characteristics-surface properties-reagent adsorption-floatability,” This study clarified the microscopic mechanism underlying the differences in floatability among stibnite of differing genesis, providing a theoretical basis for the efficient separation of complex stibnite resources.
{"title":"Genesis-driven crystal plane differentiation and ADD adsorption: coupled regulation on stibnite floatability","authors":"Qihang Dai, Wenjuan Li, Weiguang Xu, Miao Wang, Baocheng Han, Hao Shi, Wei Zhu, Haotian Wang, Chuanyu Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110159","url":null,"abstract":"To elucidate the intrinsic mechanisms underlying the differences in floatability among stibnite of differing genesis, this study selected three representative types: carbonate sedimentary-modified layer-controlled (QH-1), medium and low-temperature hydrothermal (QH-2), and ultrashallow–shallow low-temperature hydrothermal (QH-3) stibnite. The flotation behaviors of these types in the presence of ammonium dibutyl dithiophosphate (ADD) were systematically examined through integrated surface analysis techniques combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This approach revealed the fundamental mechanisms driving behavioral differences at the micro level. Owing to distinct mineralization backgrounds, QH-1, QH-2, and QH-3 exhibited different dominant crystal planes, specifically (1 –4 −1), (0 0 –1), and (4 1 0), respectively, along with varying surface properties. Under flotation conditions of pH 6 and an ADD concentration of 9 × 10<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−4</ce:sup> mol/L, the recovery rates for the three stibnite types were 63.6% (QH-2), 60.2% (QH-1), and 58.7% (QH-3). Further characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy indicated that ADD formed a uniform and dense adsorption layer on the (0 0 –1) crystal plane with the highest interaction intensity. However, on the (4 1 0) crystal plane, adsorption was sparse and mainly relied on physical adsorption. The DFT calculations further indicated that the adsorption energy of the (0 0 –1) crystal plane with ADD was the lowest (−2.5241 eV), representing enhanced chemical adsorption. From the perspective of “genesis-crystal plane characteristics-surface properties-reagent adsorption-floatability,” This study clarified the microscopic mechanism underlying the differences in floatability among stibnite of differing genesis, providing a theoretical basis for the efficient separation of complex stibnite resources.","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146209451","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110161
Tendesai Sigauke, Oluwagbenga T. Johnson, Victoria L. Ndeshimona, Melvin M. Mashingaidze, Mxolisi B. Shongwe, Neo Kekana
This study investigated the use of polystyrene nano-collectors (PS NCs) for copper recovery from −75 µm concentrator tailings. PS NCs were prepared using styrene and vinylimidazole monomers with varying cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) concentrations to yield particles with sizes from 40 to 160 nm. SEM and FTIR characterized particle morphology and chemistry. Flotation tests were conducted at pH 9.5 using PS NC dosages of 1.33, 2.65, and 3.98 kg/t, and PS NC sizes of 61.2, 76.4, and 126.5 nm. Multiple regression analysis quantified the effects of NC size and dosage on Cu recovery. SEM revealed irregular, polydisperse NCs, and FTIR confirmed grafting of vinylimidazole onto the polystyrene backbone. Cu recovery increased with NC dosage, peaking at 74% recovery at 2.65 kg/t of 61.2 nm NCs, while the highest Cu grade (1.31%) was achieved at 1.33 kg/t. NC-mediated recovery was within 1% of PAX performance. Regression analysis explained 90.6% of the variability in recovery (R2 = 0.906), with NC size (p = 0.0004) and dosage (p = 0.0358) both significant. Optimization identified a 35.6 nm PS NC at a dosage of 2.65 kg/t as the ideal compromise between recovery and grade. The PS NCs synthesized exhibited Cu flotation recoveries comparable to those obtained with PAX, however, this performance was achieved at much higher dosages, highlighting potential limitations in reagent efficiency and economic feasibility. The optimized PS NC parameters (35.6 nm, 2.65 kg/t) provide a promising pathway for more sustainable and selective Cu recovery from low-grade tailings. Further scale-up and cost-benefit analyses are recommended to validate industrial applicability.
{"title":"Enhanced froth flotation recovery of copper sulfides from concentrator tailings using synthetic polystyrene nano-collectors","authors":"Tendesai Sigauke, Oluwagbenga T. Johnson, Victoria L. Ndeshimona, Melvin M. Mashingaidze, Mxolisi B. Shongwe, Neo Kekana","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110161","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the use of polystyrene nano-collectors (PS NCs) for copper recovery from −75 µm concentrator tailings. PS NCs were prepared using styrene and vinylimidazole monomers with varying cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) concentrations to yield particles with sizes from 40 to 160 nm. SEM and FTIR characterized particle morphology and chemistry. Flotation tests were conducted at pH 9.5 using PS NC dosages of 1.33, 2.65, and 3.98 kg/t, and PS NC sizes of 61.2, 76.4, and 126.5 nm. Multiple regression analysis quantified the effects of NC size and dosage on Cu recovery. SEM revealed irregular, polydisperse NCs, and FTIR confirmed grafting of vinylimidazole onto the polystyrene backbone. Cu recovery increased with NC dosage, peaking at 74% recovery at 2.65 kg/t of 61.2 nm NCs, while the highest Cu grade (1.31%) was achieved at 1.33 kg/t. NC-mediated recovery was within 1% of PAX performance. Regression analysis explained 90.6% of the variability in recovery (R<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2</ce:sup> = 0.906), with NC size (p = 0.0004) and dosage (p = 0.0358) both significant. Optimization identified a 35.6 nm PS NC at a dosage of 2.65 kg/t as the ideal compromise between recovery and grade. The PS NCs synthesized exhibited Cu flotation recoveries comparable to those obtained with PAX, however, this performance was achieved at much higher dosages, highlighting potential limitations in reagent efficiency and economic feasibility. The optimized PS NC parameters (35.6 nm, 2.65 kg/t) provide a promising pathway for more sustainable and selective Cu recovery from low-grade tailings. Further scale-up and cost-benefit analyses are recommended to validate industrial applicability.","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"15 5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146209447","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110140
Yongxing Zhou, Ruofan Sun, Jiushuai Deng, Dingquan Xing, Hongbo Sun, Xuli Lian, Teng Li, Hao Zhang, Mingzhu Huangfu, Zhongyi Bai
Efficient quartz recovery is essential for the sustainable utilization of mineral resources. This study presents a green composite flocculation collector, sodium oleate-grafted graphene (PG-GOS), synthesized by covalently grafting sodium oleate onto a graphene oxide framework. This nanomaterial serves a dual purpose: flocculation and collection. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis, micro-flotation tests, and scanning electron microscopy/X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SEM/XPS), demonstrated that PG-GOS aggregates fine quartz particles (less than 38 μm) into clusters ranging from 50 to 200 μm, significantly enhancing their floatability. Quartz recovery improved by nearly 30% compared to systems utilizing standalone sodium oleate (NaOL). The enhancement mechanism is attributed to three synergistic effects: (1) Network Capture: The mesh structure entraps fine quartz particles, increasing the probability of bubble-particle collisions; (2) Hydrophobic Domain Construction: Grafted NaOL chains create high-density hydrophobic zones on the inherently hydrophobic graphene, enhancing bridging flocculation through hydrocarbon chain entanglement and hydrogen bonding; (3) Oriented Alignment: The graphene carrier aligns NaOL molecules, effectively extending the carbon chain length.
{"title":"Graphene surface grafting with sodium oleate via plasma treatment to enhance fine-grained quartz flotation performance","authors":"Yongxing Zhou, Ruofan Sun, Jiushuai Deng, Dingquan Xing, Hongbo Sun, Xuli Lian, Teng Li, Hao Zhang, Mingzhu Huangfu, Zhongyi Bai","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110140","url":null,"abstract":"Efficient quartz recovery is essential for the sustainable utilization of mineral resources. This study presents a green composite flocculation collector, sodium oleate-grafted graphene (PG-GOS), synthesized by covalently grafting sodium oleate onto a graphene oxide framework. This nanomaterial serves a dual purpose: flocculation and collection. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis, micro-flotation tests, and scanning electron microscopy/X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SEM/XPS), demonstrated that PG-GOS aggregates fine quartz particles (less than 38 μm) into clusters ranging from 50 to 200 μm, significantly enhancing their floatability. Quartz recovery improved by nearly 30% compared to systems utilizing standalone sodium oleate (NaOL). The enhancement mechanism is attributed to three synergistic effects: (1) Network Capture: The mesh structure entraps fine quartz particles, increasing the probability of bubble-particle collisions; (2) Hydrophobic Domain Construction: Grafted NaOL chains create high-density hydrophobic zones on the inherently hydrophobic graphene, enhancing bridging flocculation through hydrocarbon chain entanglement and hydrogen bonding; (3) Oriented Alignment: The graphene carrier aligns NaOL molecules, effectively extending the carbon chain length.","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"95 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146209448","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110160
Spencer Cunningham, Maziar E. Sauber, Gisele Azimi
{"title":"Integrated caustic cracking and supercritical CO2 extraction for scandium and rare earths recovery from refractory silicate ores","authors":"Spencer Cunningham, Maziar E. Sauber, Gisele Azimi","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110160","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146160830","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110141
Joseph Kolela Nyembwe, Christian Ekberg, Ilyes Mahti, Martina Petranikova, Fei Wang
{"title":"Optimizing heap leaching of complex sulphide ores ((Fe,Ni)9S8-CuFeS2): A review on dissolution kinetics and process improvement for nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu)","authors":"Joseph Kolela Nyembwe, Christian Ekberg, Ilyes Mahti, Martina Petranikova, Fei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110141","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18594,"journal":{"name":"Minerals Engineering","volume":"100 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146161060","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}
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