Review of the Influence of Native and Modified Biopolymers on Carbonaceous Gangue Depression in Selective Flotation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Efficient separation of hydrophobic gangue materials such as carbonaceous minerals is paramount in minerals flotation to mitigate the industry’s carbon footprint and address negative impacts of climate changes. Despite extensive research on native biopolymers such as polysaccharides for rejecting problematic carbon, non-discriminate interactions and limited flotation selectivity persist in the minerals industry. There have also been considerable efforts to enhance biopolymers’ selectivity and depressive capacity in minerals flotation through structure modifications. However, there are no reviews conducted to scrutinize the influences of structural and functional feature alterations following biopolymer modifications. The primary objective of the review is to understand the processes underpinning selective interactions for improved carbon rejection when using diverse biopolymers. The work includes a description of structure and characterization of carbonaceous materials, particularly hydrophobic graphitic carbons as the gangue minerals of concern in industry first. In the following sections the influences of native and modified biopolymers are discussed in the context of revealing the selectivity potential when carbonaceous materials are depressed in selective flotation. In the end some possible future research directions are proposed. The review seeks to foster sustainable practices using green techniques and control carbon contamination in minerals flotation in industry.