Abstract: Phosphate rock is a very important and non−renewable strategic resource. Flotation method is the most commonly used and effective method in the separation and purification of phosphate rock. Different minerals in phosphate rock can expand the difference in physical and chemical properties of the particle surface under the action of different agents, and then realize the separation of phosphate minerals and gangue minerals. The main agents for phosphate rock flotation are activator, pH regulator, inhibitor and collector. This paper summarizes the shortcomings of activator, pH regulator, inhibitor and collector in recent years from the application status, mechanism research, pharmaceutical combination and development, and points out that new reagents with high performance, environmental protection, low cost and low temperature resistance are the urgent development direction of phosphate flotation reagents.