In　this　study,　three　separate　flotation　systems　were　studied　to　define　the　residual　collectors　found　in　different　recycled　water　for　sulfide　(xanthate-chalcopyrite),　non-sulfide　with　anionic　(NaOL-dolomite)　and　cationic　(DTAB-quartz)　collector　processes.　The　adsorption/desorption　of　collectors　and　the　adsorption　morphology　were　studied　by　the　zeta　potential　and　atomic　force　microscopy　(AFM)　measurements,　the　adsorption　energy　and　configurations　were　simulated　by　the　density　functional　theory-based　first　principal　calculations.　It　was　found　that　butyl　xanthate　(BX)　was　adsorbed　on　chalcopyrite　surface　with　pronounced　protrusions　by　chemisorption,　and　the　residual　BX　in　slurry　was　5.79　%.　While　sodium　oleate　(NaOL)　formed　scattered　protrusions　on　dolomite　surface　by　weak　adsorption,　the　residual　NaOL　in　slurry　was　30.74　%　that　reacted　with　the　Ca2+　or　Mg2+　cations.　The　dodecyl　trimethyl　ammonium　bromide　(DTAB)　adsorbed　on　quartz　surface　through　hydrophobic　aggregations　and　the　residual　DTAB　in　slurry　was　16.57　%.　This　work　might　provide　a　guidance　for　understanding　reagent　consumption　and　flotation　performance　in　typical　mineral　flotation　systems.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd