A review of classical theories and characterization techniques for the mineral particle wettability in flotation process--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Deng, C., Mao, Y., He, T., Dong, L., Shen, P., & Liu, D. (2026). A review of classical theories and characterization techniques for the mineral particle wettability in flotation process. Particuology, 108, 54-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2025.11.005

A review of classical theories and characterization techniques for the mineral particle wettability in flotation process

Chengping Deng^a, Yuqiang Mao^{a b *}, Teng He^a, Liuyang Dong^a, Peilun Shen^a, Dianwen Liu^{a c *}

a State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Green Separation and Enrichment of Strategic Mineral Resources, Faculty of Land Resources Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China
b Key Laboratory of Coal Processing and Efficient Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China
c Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming, 650092, China

10.1016/j.partic.2025.11.005

Volume 108, January 2026, Pages 54-67

Received 8 October 2025, Revised 1 November 2025, Accepted 6 November 2025, Available online 15 November 2025, Version of Record 3 December 2025.

E-mail: cumtmyq@163.com; dianwenliu1@kust.edu.cn

Highlights

• Application boundaries of Young, Wenzel, and Cassie-Baxter models were different.

• Traditional and novel methods characterizing surface wettability were reviewed.

• Contact angle has issue like hysteresis and pinning during wettability measurement.

• In-depth study on mineral heterogeneous surface will improve wettability theory.

• AFM and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) will help study mineral wettability.

Abstract

Surface wettability of mineral particles is the key interface characteristic to control the flotation separation process. This work systematically summarized the classic theories and characterization techniques of wettability commonly used in the mineral flotation process. The Young's equation, Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter models were separately applied in interpreting the wetting behaviors of droplets on smooth under ideal conditions, rough and heterogeneous surfaces of mineral particles. Meanwhile, some novel analytical techniques of wettability, such as surface energy, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR), molecular dynamics simulations (MDS), etc., have been gradually developed and adopted. The shortcomings in surface wettability research for mineral flotation were reviewed, such as contact angle hysteresis, pinning effects, and the difficulty in characterizing dynamic wetting processes on complex heterogeneous mineral surfaces. Future research should integrate traditional and novel characterization methods to overcome challenges in heterogeneous wetting on complex mineral surfaces. This review is crucial for deeply understanding the mineral surface wettability and further improving the flotation separation efficiency of mineral particles.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Mineral particles; Wettability; Flotation; Theories; Characterization techniques

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