Cellulose and its derivatives as a sustainable reagent in mineral flotation: mechanisms and applications
Patrycja S. Bednarek, Przemyslaw B. Kowalczuk
Abstract
Cellulose is one of the most abundant natural polymers, and its role as a chemical raw material has been recognized for over 150 years. Its renewable and biodegradable nature positively impacts many industries’ sustainability, including chemical engineering. Moreover, cellulose’s universal structure and chemical versatility enable different applications. In flotation, cellulose derivatives are widely used as Ca- and Mg-bearing minerals depressants. Key characteristics of cellulose allow the design of tailored cellulose-based reagents for specific mineral separation processes, further supporting a greener shift in mineral and metal production. Flotation is a separation process based on the differences in mineral surface hydrophobicity and is applied in the beneficiation of over 70 % of mined ore globally. This study focuses on the role of cellulose derivatives as flotation reagents, exploring their applications in mineral separation. The reagents’ structure, surface properties, performance, and bonding mechanisms on mineral surfaces are examined. Evaluation of cellulosic agents has demonstrated their effectiveness as five distinct flotation reagents. Their versatility is also reflected in the diversity of minerals they can target. Moreover, cellulose derivatives offer an alternative to many toxic chemicals traditionally used in flotation, providing the potential to eliminate or reduce their usage significantly.