Abstract:The main progress of the flotation inhibitors of sphalerite is summarized and the reasons for the difficulty in the separation of lead and zinc are analyzed. The review of the research progress of the sphalerite inhibitors from organic inhibitors and inorganic inhibitors has been summarized. The sphalerite inhibition mechanism and its application examples have been discussed in detail, And the combined agents and the development of new types of non-toxic, high-efficiency, and environmental protection have been pointed out. The development direction of flotation inhibitors provides some guidance for the efficient use of resources.