Constitutive Relationships of Oxide Ore Collectors: From Molecular Structure to Surface Interaction

Oxide ore resources are essential raw materials for strategic metal materials, and its efficient separation and enrichment technology has become the key to guarantee the security of the mineral supply chain and promote the transformation of low−carbon metallurgy. Flotation technology, as the core method of oxidized ore separation, is highly dependent on the collection ability and selectivity of the collectors. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of fatty acids, oxygenates, oximes, amines and combined collectors in oxide ore flotation, focuses on the molecular modification strategies for the inherent shortcomings of various types of collectors (e.g., poor selectivity, low solubility, weak low−temperature resistance, high cost, etc.), elucidates the mechanism of interaction between the collector and the mineral surface (including chemical adsorption/chelation, physical adsorption, etc.), and reveals the mechanism of synergy enhancement of the combined collectors through co−adsorption, site complementation and intermolecular forces. This review provides a reference for the design and application of oxide ore collectors and prospects the development of new collectors based on computational simulation, green chemistry, and interfacial science.