Hematite as a vital iron ore resource, plays a pivotal role in supporting industrial development and national economies. Its efficient beneficiation is crucial for the sustainable and rational utilization of iron ore reserves, especially amid growing reliance on low-grade and complex ores. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of current advances in flotation reagent systems for hematite separation. Key reagent classes—including collectors for direct flotation, depressants for reverse flotation, and reagents targeting iron-bearing silicate gangue minerals—are systematically examined. The adsorption mechanisms, selectivity, and mineral–reagent interactions of anionic, cationic, mixed, and amphoteric collectors are critically analyzed. Various depressants, such as starch derivatives, natural polymers, organic acids, and emerging green polymers, are compared in terms of their depression efficiency and environmental compatibility. Special focus is given to the challenges posed by silicate gangue minerals like chlorite and amphibole, which exhibit similar physicochemical properties to hematite. Strategies developed to achieve selective separation are also discussed. The insights presented aim to guide the innovation of reagent systems and the optimization of flotation processes in alignment with principles of green and sustainable mineral processing.
Yuanyuan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.