Abstract: In order to solve the problem of selection of separation equipment for a molybdenum polymetallic ore，aiming at the significant difference in the dissemination characteristics of molybdenite and galenite in the ore，a comparative test on the separation effect of flotation column and flotation machine is systematically carried out around the two core process stages of molybdenum-lead mixed flotation and molybdenum-lead separation. The test results show that in the molybdenum-lead mixed flotation stage，un‐ der the condition of grinding fineness of -0.074 mm 65%，the flotation column has a significant advantage in the recovery of fine-grained molybdenite，and the molybdenum recovery rate（85.47%）is 6.41 percent‐ age points higher than that of the flotation machine（79.06%）. However，the recovery rate of coarse�grained galenite is insufficient，and the lead recovery rate（56.88%）is 21.06 percentage points lower than that of flotation machine（77.94%）. In the stage of molybdenum-lead separation，the flotation machine has a more thorough inhibition effect on lead by virtue of more sufficient slurry stirring and reagent dispersion effect.After one roughing and three cleaning processes，the lead grade of molybdenum concentrate can be reduced from 31.23% to 1.73%，with a decrease of 94.46%，while the flotation column needs two cleanings to achieve similar lead reduction effect. The final molybdenum concentrate lead content（9.96%）is still far more than the flotation machine，and the separation efficiency is more than 30% lower. Considering the re‐ covery benefit of molybdenum and lead，the product quality compliance rate and the subsequent process connection，the flotation machine is recommended as the main sorting equipment for the molybdenum polymetallic ore.The flotation column can be used as an auxiliary equipment for fine-grained molybdenum recovery. By further optimizing the equipment parameters and reagent system，the application potential of the combined process of flotation machine roughing + flotation column cleaning is explored.

Key words: molybdenum polymetallic ore, flotation column, flotation machine, separation effect, mo‐ lybdenum lead separation