Xanthate

Xanthate is a flotation collector of sulfide ore. Its chemical name is xanthate or alkyl dithiocarbonate, and its structural formula is:

$$ {\displaystyle \begin{array}{c}\mathrm{S}\\ {}\parallel \\ {}\mathrm{R}\hbox{---} \mathrm{O}\hbox{---} \mathrm{C}\hbox{---} \mathrm{S}\hbox{---} \mathrm{M}\end{array}} $$

In the formula, R is alkyl and M is sodium (Na) or potassium (K).

The English of xanthate was derived from Greek, meaning yellow. In 1815, xanthate was synthesized. In 1876, it was used as the analytical reagent of nickel ion. In 1902, it was used for quantitative determination of copper ion, and then successively for the determinations of cobalt, molybdenum, and arsenic. In 1925, American scientist C.H. Keller used xanthate as the collector in the flotation of sulfide ore.

Classification

According to the metal element connected to the thioether group, xanthates are classified into sodium xanthate and potassium xanthate. Among the xanthates used in industry, when the number of...