Techniques of pre-concentration by sensor-based sorting and froth flotation concentration applied to sulfide ores : a review

The use of pre-concentration and optimization of concentration methods have been the focus of the modern mineral industry. Sensor-based sorting equipment and flotation are key players in that movement. This study provides an overview of the main sensor-based sorting techniques and their uses, focusing on sulfides, addressing performance analysis methodologies, and giving the advantages and limitations of the method. An overview of the flotation technique is also presented, covering its basic principles of operation, as well as its main applications in sulfides, its interactions with pre-concentration, and some opportunities and perspectives on the method, such as water reuse impacts, tailing reprocessing, etc. Case studies are presented addressing the influence of the techniques on each other and some future prospects for the mining sector, such as deep-sea mining (DSM) and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).