Nanobubbles and the flotation process in mineral recovery: A bibliometric and systematic literature analysis covering the period 2005–2024

Cotrina-Teatino M.A.; Marquina-Araujo J.J.; Contreras-Valverde J.S.; Valdivieso-Saavedra M.A. · Minerals Engineering (2025) · DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109310

Resumen

This study aimed to comprehensively map research on nanobubbles and their application in flotation processes for mineral recovery between 2005 and 2024, identifying key topics, trends, and future directions. Using a mixed-methods approach that included bibliometric analysis, text mining, and content analysis, three main objectives were set: (i) to capture the scientific context of research on nanobubbles in flotation, identifying emerging trends over the past 19 years; (ii) to synthesize the existing literature on the impact of nanobubbles on mineral recovery efficiency; and (iii) to propose future research directions. A total of 175 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus, JSTOR, Taylor & Francis, SpringerLink, and ScienceDirect databases were analyzed, selected using the PRISMA method and ad-hoc sampling. The bibliometric analysis identified four main research areas: (1) related to nanobubble generation and its impact on coal and mineral flotation; (2) associated with microbubble and nanoparticle interactions in flotation; (3) related to advanced techniques in nanobubble generation and surface property modification; and (4) focused on nanobubble flotation systems and optimization for mineral recovery. Based on these areas, four future research directions were proposed: (1) impact of nanobubble surface chemistry on flotation selectivity, (2) hybrid nanoparticle-nanobubble systems for selective and efficient flotation, (3) intelligent nanobubble generation systems for dynamic flotation optimization, and (4) industrial integration of nanobubble flotation in circular mining practices. These recommendations aim to enhance the effectiveness and feasibility of nanobubbles in flotation processes, contributing to more sustainable and efficient development in mining.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Trujillo