The flotation separation of smithsonite and calcite is difficult due to their similar surface physicochemical characteristics. In this study, calcium lignosulphonate (CLS) was employed as a selective inhibitor for the flotation separation of smithsonite from calcite using sodium oleate (NaOl) as collector. Flotation experiments results indicate that the calcite flotation was strongly depressed by CLS, whereas the smithsonite flotation was barely interfered. The flotation separation of smithsonite from calcite could be achieved at pH 10. A concentrate with zinc grade and recovery of 45.16% and 85.60% respectively was obtained in the artificial mixed minerals flotation experiment in the presence of CLS. The interaction mechanism was investigated by zeta potential measurement, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and results suggest that CLS chemically absorbed on the calcite surface in the form of Ca-SO₃, which strongly hindered the successive NaOl adsorption on the calcite. However, it barely absorbed on the smithsonite surface, thus exhibiting little influence on the reaction between NaOl and smithsonite. Hence, CLS could be utilized as a selective depressant for calcite in the flotation of smithsonite.

菱锌矿和方解石由于表面理化特性相似，难以浮选分离。在这项研究中，木质素磺酸钙 (CLS) 被用作选择性抑制剂，用于使用油酸钠 (NaOl) 作为捕收剂从方解石中浮选菱锌矿。浮选实验结果表明CLS对方解石浮选有强烈抑制作用，而菱锌矿浮选几乎没有干扰。菱锌矿浮选在pH 10时可以实现方解石和菱锌矿的浮选分离。在CLS存在下进行人工混合矿物浮选实验，得到锌品位和回收率分别为45.16%和85.60%的精矿。通过zeta电位测量研究了相互作用机制，₃，这强烈阻碍了 NaOl 在方解石上的连续吸附。然而，它几乎没有吸收到菱锌矿表面，因此对 NaOl 和菱锌矿之间的反应几乎没有影响。因此，CLS 可用作菱锌矿浮选中方解石的选择性抑制剂。