Perspectiva e potencial aplicação de biorreagentes na flotação de minerais

Flotation and Floculation are widely used for mineral separation. These unit operations use modifiers, collectors and depressants that modify the mineral surface properties. Some of these commercial reagents may be either expensive and/or inefficient for low grade ores (Torem & Casquiera, 2003; Pearse, 2005). In recent years, several studies have been carried out on the use of microorganisms as friendly collectors. These microorganisms act as bioreagents and may induce hydrophobic properties, since they can adhere selectively to the mineral surface (Fuerstenau, 1999). The microrganism cell surface is conformed by functional groups like polymers, peptides, phospholipids, proteins and micolic acids (Namita & Natarajan, 1999). These groups must adhere to the mineral surface directly and utilize cell surface associated or extracelular biopolymers to catalyze chemical reactions on the mineral surface. The Bioflotation and Bioflocculation processes are the use of micro-organism for the mineral separation. (Sharma & Rao, 2003). The aim of this article is to show the high possibility and characteristics of mineral biobeneficiation. The new process can be one alternative for looking for new reagents in flocculation and flotation processing.