The present invention relates to the use of a compound as a collector for the selective flotation of
lithium minerals, characterized in that the compound is represented by the formula (1): AB (1); wherein A is a) an aromatic group substituted by one or more OH and / or
SH groups, or b) an aromatic group attached to B via a
methylene group of the formula -[CH2]- or a
methylene carbanion group of the formula -[CH -]-; wherein B is i) a
pyridinium or benzoannelated
pyridinium compound, wherein A is bonded to the
nitrogen atom of the
pyridinium or benzoannelated pyridinium compound, or ii) a substituted or unsubstituted pyridyl or benzoannelated pyridyl group; wherein the selective flotation of
lithium minerals is carried out using a conditioning time CT ≥ 3 min, preferably > 5 min, more preferably > 10 min, and / or wherein the selective flotation of
lithium minerals is carried out at a temperature ≤ 10°C or ≥ 25°C, preferably ≤ 5°C or ≥ 40°C. The present invention further relates to a flotation composition comprising said compound as a collector and a flotation process using said compound as a collector.