What is the role of depressant in froth-floatation process?
What is the role of depressant in froth-floatation process?

Solution 2:
The role of depressant is to prevent one type of sulphide ore particles from forming the froth with air bubbles. \mathrm{NaCN} is used as a depressant to separate lead sulphide
(PbS) ore from zinc sulphide ( \mathrm{ZnS} ) ore. \mathrm{NaCN} forms a zinc complex, N a_{2}\left[Z n(C N)_{4}\right] on the surface of \mathrm{ZnS} thereby preventing it from the formation of the froth.

    \[4 \mathrm{NaCN}+\mathrm{ZnS} \rightarrow \mathrm{Na}_{2}\left[\mathrm{Zn}(\mathrm{CN})_{4}\right]+\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{~S}\]

Sodium tetracyno-
Zincate (I I)
In this condition, only lead sulphide forms froth and thus can be separated from zinc sulphide ore.