Depressors

DEPRESSORS are reagents, the introduction of which into the flotation process causes a decrease in the extraction of certain minerals. The use of depressors leads to the displacement of the collector from the surface of the mineral and to the creation of conditions that prevent the sorption of the collector.

Depressors are used both in the separation of valuable minerals from waste rock, and in the separation of useful minerals. The most important depressors: sodium sulphide and other water-soluble sulfides, cyanides (depressors of sulfide minerals); sulfites, hyposulfites and some sulfates (depressors of sphalerite);