Harnessing Microbes for Enhanced Flotation Technology: A Review on Sustainable Mineral Beneficiation

The application of microbes and their by-products for mineral flotation has been recognized extensively. The use of ecologically friendly reagents has garnered significant global interest due to limitations placed on conventional flotation. Several research studies have been done on the environmentally friendly flotation of ores to promote cleaner production and sustainable development. This review delves into the flotation of various ores using microbes. The review reveals that microbes’ interaction during flotation significantly influences the surface characteristics of minerals. The microbial surfactants have the ability to foam and reduce surface tensions, therefore being used as frothers. In addition to biotechnological variables, such as cell structure and intrinsic properties of the microbes, operating variables, such as pulp pH and density, influence the overall efficiency. Finally, the challenges and potential of microbes-assisted flotation were reviewed, highlighting economic barriers as the main problem towards the potential industrial application. Genetically modified microbes have been developed to improve their efficiency and specificity while interacting with mineral surfaces, among other technological improvements in microbial flotation. Furthermore, the use of new analytical techniques, such as atomic force microscopy and zeta potential measurement, has allowed a deeper understanding of the molecular interactions between microbes and minerals. In conclusion, the use of microbes and microbial by-products in mineral flotation presents a promising technique for environmentally friendly and sustainable mineral separation.