Abstract: Metal ions play an important role in rutile flotation, which can be divided into activation and inhibition. The activation ions include Pb²⁺, Bi³⁺ and Cu²⁺, and the inhibition ions include Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺. Their mechanism of action is obviously different. In this paper, the commonly used flotation collectors of rutile in recent years are summarized, and the influence and action mechanism of activation ions Pb²⁺, Bi³⁺, Cu²⁺ and inhibition ions Al³⁺, Fe³⁺ on rutile flotation are mainly introduced, so as to provide reference for understanding the influence and action mechanism of common metal ions in rutile flotation.