Stibnite froth flotation: A critical review
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Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Segura-Salazar, Juliana
Brito-Parada, Pablo R
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Antimony has a long and diverse history of applications, and concerns about its future supply have emerged in recent years. Stibnite-bearing ores continue to be the main source of this critical element, although its sourcing from secondary resources (e.g. mine tailings) is becoming increasingly relevant yet technically challenging. In this sense, froth flotation plays a key role in the recovery of stibnite from both sources. In view of this, a comprehensive review of technical and environmental aspects related to the flotation of stibnite across scales (microflotation, bench-scale and industrial-scale) has been carried out. One of the major topics reviewed is stibnite flotation reagents; while the overall practice has been mostly conservative, relying on the use of xanthate collectors and lead nitrate as an activator, less common (bio)reagents for the flotation of stibnite ores of varying complexity have been shown to be a promising alternative. Other challenges identified from the literature are discussed, highlighting areas of opportunities for further research to enhance stibnite flotation, minimise antimony losses throughout the mine life cycle and thus make antimony more available for future generations.
Date Issued
2021-03
Date Acceptance
2020-11-12
Citation
Minerals Engineering, 2021, 163, pp.1-23
ISSN
0892-6875
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
1
End Page
23
Journal / Book Title
Minerals Engineering
Volume
163
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0892687520305331?via%3Dihub
Grant Number
730411
Subjects
0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
0904 Chemical Engineering
0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy
Mining & Metallurgy
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
106713
Date Publish Online
2021-01-24