Ilmenite flotation separation: Current progress, challenges, and opportunities
Jiaqiao Yuan1, Liheng Lv1, Haixiang Shen1
1State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China; Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, Yunnan, China.
Abstract:
As a critical strategic metal, titanium is widely utilized in aerospace, marine engineering, new energy materials, and chemical industries due to its excellent properties such as low density, high strength, and corrosion resistance, making it a key raw material supporting the development of national high-end manufacturing. Ilmenite (FeTiO3), the primary deposit mineral for titanium in nature, accounting for over 90% of global titanium resources, plays a pivotal role in the sustainable development of the titanium industry. As high-grade ilmenite resources worldwide become increasingly depleted, the focus of mineral processing research has shifted to complex ilmenite deposits characterized by low grades, fine-grained distribution, and polymetallic association. Currently, ilmenite beneficiation faces challenges such as poor ore properties, low separation efficiency, and insufficient reagent selectivity. Selective flotation of fine-grained ilmenite, in particular, has long been a technical bottleneck within the industry. This article provides a systematic review of the resource characteristics and global distribution of ilmenite, analyzes the physicochemical properties of its surface and the interfacial mechanisms in flotation, details recent advancements in flotation reagent systems (collectors, depressants, and activators), and discusses challenges in resource development and selective flotation. The review aims to offer theoretical insights and technical support for the innovation and industrial application of efficient ilmenite separation technologies.
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