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Chemical name: Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX)

Equivalent to : Z-14

Trade name: FLORREA-SIBX                                                                                                            

Molecular Formula: (CH3)2CHCH2OCSSNa

Structural Formula : CH3\         ∥S 

                      CHCH2 OC – SNa

                  CH3 /     

Testing method: Lead acetate titration

CAS Number:  25306-75-6

EINECS No.: 246-805-2
Physical characteristics: Slight yellow or grey yellow free flowing Powder soluble in water

Specification

Chemical components	Specification 1	Analysis result 1	Specification 2	Analysis result 2
purity	85% Min	85.5	90%  Min	90.2
Moisture & volatiles	10% Max	8.7	4%  Max	3.2
Free alkali	0.5% Max	0.03	0.2%  Max	0.11
Diameter(mm)	3-6
Length(mm)	5-15
Validity	12 months

Application: Flotation collector Florrea SIBX(sodium isobutyl xanthate) is also a stronger collector in the flotation of various nonferrous metallic sulfide ores. Sodium isobutyl xanthate is mainly used in the flotation of sulfide ore of copper, lead, zinc etc. Florrea SIBX is especially effective in the flotation of copper ores and of pyrites in natural circuits

Typical dosage: 10-100g/tonne

Solution: 5%-25%

Packing

Item	Type	Packing	Quantity
1	Steel drum	110kg net UN approved full opened head steel drum with polyethylene bag lining inside (powder and pellet)	14.74mts (134 drums) per 20’FCL
2		170KG NET UN Approved STEEL DRUM with polyethylene bag lining inside ,4 drums/Wooden pallet Dimension of each drum: 560mm( diameter) X 1000mm(height)	13.6MTS (80 drums or 20 Pallets)  per 20’FCL
3	Bag in box	UN approved 850kg net jumbo bag inside UN approved wooden box on pallet	17mts(20 boxes)/20’FCL
4		25kg or 50kg net PP woven bag lined with PE bag in UN approved wooden box on pallet	16mts(20 boxes)/20’FCL
5	Bag on pallet	50kg net PP woven bag lined with PE bag ,16such bags on a  wooden pallet	16mts(20 pallets)/20’FCL

Who is using Florrea’s Xanthate:?

Xstrata Canada,Codelco, RIO TINTO, BHP copper ,Eldorado , SPCC etc.

Why Florrea Xanthate Quality is reliable and Guaranteed?

1.  Florrea provide 100% pure xanthate and never mix cheaper xanthate to cheat customers to get orders.

2.  Florrea xanthate is qualified and can be inspection by SGS if required by buyer.

3.  Florrea is ISO9001 certified world leading manufacturer and exporter on xanthate for over 20 years

( Florrea ISO9001 certificate No.:086911Q)

4.   Florrea xanthate is regarded as the world Most reliable quality in the past 10 years.

Why some seller want to mix cheaper xanthate into expensive xanthate?

1. For making more money.

Some xanthate competitors mix cheaper xanthate like sodium isopropyl xanthate(SIPX) or sodium ethyl xanthate(SEX) into PBX to lower price. They supply mixed xanthate to get some illegal profit secretly without telling the buyer in advance.

1. Generally speaking, long chain length xanthate is more expensive than short chain length xanthate.

For instance, 1.1 potassium amyl xanthate is cheaper than sodium ethyl xanthate.

1.2 Potassium salt xanthate is more expensive than sodium salt xanthate.

The main raw materials for xanthate is carbon disulfide, alcohol , sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

The main xanthate widely used is

Florrea SIPX  Sodium Isopropyl Xanthate

Florrea PIPX  Potassium Isopropyl Xanthate

  Florrea PEX  Potassium Ethyl Xanthate

Florrea SEX  Sodium Ethyl Xanthate      

  Florrea PBX  Potassium  n-Butyl Xanthate

Florrea SBX  Sodium Butyl Xanthate    

  Florrea PIBX  Potassium Isobutyl Xanthate

Florrea SIBX  Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate    

  Florrea PAX  Potassium Amyl Xanthate

How much more profit the seller can make by supplying mixed xanthate rather than pure xanthate?

One example

Pure xanthate		Mixted PBX (Mixed xanthate)
Name	Unit cost (USD/mt)	Mixture ratio	Mixed cost distribution(USD/mt)
Potassium butyl xanthate(PAX)	1800	80%	1440
Sodium ethyl xanthate(SEX)	1200	20%	240
		Total cost of mixed PBX which is sold as pure PBX	1680
Price difference of pure PBX and mixed PBX			120 = 1800-1680

Dear Customers, please open your eyes widely and Buy the right Xanthate .

How do distinguish and identify inferior xanthate ?

1. traditional xanthate testing method is lead acetate titration method . It can not tell the exact difference.

That is to say, this method can only tell whether it is xanthate and can not analyze whether it has different xanthate inside.

2.Florrea has its typical GC analysis method to tell the exact components of the xanthate.

That is to tell the proportion of different xanthate inside.

   Florrea can assist you to analyze this free of charge.

What is the side effect in case using inferior quality of xanthate?

1. may lower down flotation performance  and cause lower flotation recovery rate and concentrate grade
2. may cause serious financial losses to mineral concentrators.
3. may lower down the image and value of mining companies
4.  may give great trouble to procurement department
5. may stop mining operation for several days

Florrea Quality control

• ISO9001 Certificate granted

• No domestic or overseas customers have filed a claimed for any inferior quality.
• All products are tested prior to delivery.
• This is one of our important implementation practice for our ISO9001 quality control program and Total Quality Management program.

Florrea Strict quality management system is in place

• As part of quality guarantee, a team of dedicated and responsible employees, with a perfect set of inspection equipment, including normal chemical analysis equipment and spectrograph as well as chromatographic analysis, insures proper measurements.
• Before production, all raw materials are inspected. Materials failing to reach standard will be rejected.
• During each step of production, control inspections are performed. The inferior semi-products will not be brought to next production step. Every batch of final products is tested before it goes to the storage tank or warehouse .
• Before final product is put into packages, the Quality Control Department shall test and inspect ,to prevent any of quality problem from occurring.
• Weight inspection, LABELS inspection is done before loading into container
• Packaging is inspected before it is used

COMMENTS

• Work horse sulfide collector in the industry 

Will float most sulfide minerals

Lower R groups are more selective

Higher R groups more powerful 

Little frothing action

• Product stability

Solid product decomposes over time,

Liquid solutions decompose quickly depending on pH and temperature. 

Xanthate solutions decompose rapidly at pH below 8.  Decomposition products different depending on pH of decomposition. 

In alkaline media, trithiocarbonate formed which is a very powerful, non selective collector

• Xanthate is relatively strong acid, pKa below 1.5
• Used only in alkaline circuits because of instability
  1. Usually above pH 10. 
• Di xanthogen dimer form not stable above pH 10. 
  1. Dimer is responsible for flotation of pyrite
  2. When using xanthates, pH above 10 is necessary for selectivity against iron sulfides
• When xanthates are introduced into a circuit, the use of selective collectors is usually ineffective to improve grade downstream in sequential flotation

Usual feeding methods: PBX Dissolution Recommendations

Mixing Procedure:

The dry xanthate should be added to enough water to make the desired concentration of xanthate solution (5 – 20 %).

• It is recommended that the water temperature to be no higher than 20 degrees C to avoid rapid decomposition of the solution.  If water temperature is too cold, dissolution time gets longer.
• Using a hydrometer, complete dissolution can be determined by measuring SG. At 20 degrees C., the specific gravity of a 20% PBX solution is about 1.07. SG curves for various concentrations of xanthate solution at different temperatures are available.
• The solubility of PAX is 34% at 20 degrees C.  A 20% PBX solution can be made down to about 5 degrees C when the solubility drops below 20%.  The dissolution of PBX is slightly endothermic so the temperature during mixing may experience a slight decrease.
• Unless the pellets are extremely hard or oxidized on the surface, dissolution time should be no more than one hour as long as there is adequate mixing power or solution recirculation capability.  The solution does not need to be kept recirculating or mixed after the xanthate is completely dissolved.  Standard mixer types are adequate for the job (either high or low shear). 

​

Background of xanthate:

Xanthate collectors were introduced in 1925, and are still widely used, especially for easy-to-treat ores where selectivity (especially against iron sulfides and penalty elements) is not an issue. They are usually supplied in the powder or pellet forms and are readily soluble in water, and could be made up to any strength for convenience

in dosing.

 Xanthate solutions have relatively poor long-term stability and, therefore, are supplied in liquid form only when the manufacturing plant is in close proximity to the use location.

Xanthates are available in a range of carbon chain lengths, generally from C2 to C5. The collecting power generally increases with increase in chain length, but the selectivity decreases. .The activity of the xanthates increases  with increasing chain length of the alky group R; the selectivity decreases  in accordance with increased chain  length. Xanthates are often used in combination with other reagents such as dithiophosphates or thionocarbamates, often added to the scavenger circuit to improve the total recovery. Xanthates undergo hydrolysis in the acid pH range,and are preferred for flotation in alkaline pulp streams. Powder and Pellet form are available with

Purity of  85%  and 90% Min

Xanthates are relatively unstable at low pH and, therefore, are not suitable for

flotation in acid circuits

Xanthates are water-soluble chemicals that are used primarily in the mining industry. Xanthates can be obtained by reacting an alcohol with carbon disulphide and an alkali such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The alcohols employed are not unique. They can form ethyl, butyl (isobutyl, normal butyl, secondary butyl), propyl (isopropyl, normal propyl) and amyl (isoamyl, normal amyl, secondary amyl) xanthates, in dry forms, such as powder, granules, pellets, tablets or flakes. Xanthate is the common name for chemical reagents used in the flotation of base and precious metals, which is the standard method for separating valuable minerals, such as gold, copper, lead or zinc minerals, from non-valuable minerals, such as limestone or quartz (gangue).

To extract values, conditioned ores are mixed in a solution of water and xanthates and then agitated in flotation cells. Xanthates may be added in liquid or solid form. The xanthates cause the minerals to attach themselves to air bubbles and then float to the top of the flotation cell. As values reach the surface, the bubbles form a froth that overflows into a trough for collection. The residual may be re-used for additional recovery or removed for disposal. Most of the xanthate is consumed in the process. Several flotation processes are required for different ores. Since each ore is unique, there is no standard flotation procedure and no standard grade or type of xanthate used to extract specific values. Each producer has its own grades for xanthate composition, including purity, which is stated as a minimum percentage up to 100 per cent, and moisture. Four types of xanthates (ethyl, butyl, propyl and amyl) are produced in various combinations with sodium and potassium, which are stabilizers in the chemical formula.

Formation and structure

Xanthate salts are produced by the reaction of an alcohol with sodium or potassium hydroxide and carbon disulfide

ROH + CS2 + KOH → ROCS2K + H2O

The reaction involves the attack of the alkoxide salt. For example, sodium ethoxide gives sodium ethyl xanthate. Virtually any alcohol can be used in this reaction. Technical grade xanthate salts are usually of 90–95% purity. Impurities include alkali-metal sulfide, sulfate, trithiocarbonates, thiosulfate, sulfite, or carbonate as well as residual raw material such as alcohol and alkali hydroxide. These salts are available commercially as powder, granules, flakes, sticks, and solutions are available. China is a major exporter of granules.

Some commercially important xanthate salts include:

• sodium ethyl xanthate (SEX), CH3CH2OCS2Na,
• potassium ethyl xanthate, CH3CH2OCS2K,
• sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX)
• sodium isobutyl xanthate (SIBX)
• potassium amyl xanthate (PAX)

The OCS2 core of xanthate salts and esters is characteristically planar. The central carbon is sp-hybridized

Major raw materials

Carbon Bi Sulfide (CS2)

1. Readily Available in China, USA, Argentina, Europe, and Russia
2. Major Use is in the Production of Synthetic Fibers

• Amyl Alcohol (C5 Alcohol)
  1. North American, South American Producers use Primary Amyl Alcohol (Mixture of Normal and Iso Amyl Alcohol)
  2. Chinese use 1,2 Dimethyl Propyl Alcohol (Branched C5 Alcohol)

Supply of Chinese Amyl Alcohol close to demand. Increased demand of PAX from China may exceed Current Supply of this Alcohol.  Chinese may have to Import Primary Amyl to Meet New Demands at Higher Price than Local Alcohol.

1. South Africans use Pentylol (Mixture of Predominantly C4 – C6 Alcohols) which is a mixed stream from the coal gasification plant.

• Potassium hydroxide
  1. Major bulk commodity available globally.  Made in USA and China

Raw materials supplier for Florrea Xanthate: All of them are ISO9001 certified.

Alcohol Suppliers:

• Qilu Petrochemical Co. ,No 2 Fertilizer Factory----- ISO9001:2000
• SinoPec JinZhou Petro-chemicals Co., Ltd---- ISO9001:2000
• Beijing Chemical Industry(Group) Co., Beijing No. 4 Chemical Plant-- ISO9001:2000
• JiLin Chemicals Industry Co., Ltd-------- ISO9001:2000

Carbon Disulfide:

• Liaoyang Ruixing Chemical Co., Ltd—BS EN ISO9001:2000
  • Certificate No: 0204038(imported technology and equipment from USA FMC Company
    • Annual production capacity: 12,000mts)
• Shanxi Wenshui County Xinghua Chemical Co. Ltd—ISO9001:2000
  • Annual production capacity: 65,000mts

Caustic Soda Suppliers:

• Qingdao Haijing Chemical (Group) Co., Ltd-----ISO9001:2000
• Shandong Befar (Group) Co., Ltd-------------ISO9001:2000

PBX Safety Recommendations

• Solid xanthates are stable for a long period of time if kept cool and dry.  If exposed to moisture or heat, solid xanthate can decompose to form small amounts of carbon di sulfide which could ignite.  Keep the solid xanthate bags away from water or heat.
• Xanthate solutions being to decompose immediately when they are put into solution. Keeping the solution cool will reduce decomposition time.  Decomposition of the xanthate solution will occur at 20 degrees C, but it will be very slow.  The main hazardous decomposition product is carbon disulfide.  In PAX solutions, the carbon disulfide float to the top.  To avoid problems with carbon disulfide, there should be adequate ventilation in the xanthate solution storage tank to ensure no build up of explosive vapor.  The storage tank and immediate area should be free of ignition sources and grounded to avoid static electricity build up.  The equipment used in and around the storage tank should be explosion proof.
• Although the PBX is soluble in water, there may be some sludge developed over a long period of time.  If maintenance work is to be conducted on the tank or piping, make sure the area is thoroughly washed to remove any sludge and explosion tests should be taken prior to any hot work. Cone bottom storage and day tanks are recommended so that any sludge can be sent to the flotation circuit.  Sludge should not plug pumps or affect flotation performance.

• Xanthates can be stored and handled in black iron, carbon steel or stainless steel.  Piping can be rubber or plastic.  Copper and brass are not recommended

Storage: To be stored in cool and dry circumstance, kept away from wet, fire & sunshine

Note: This information is based on our present state of knowledge and is intended to provide general notes on Florrea products and their uses. It should not therefore be construed as guaranteeing specific properties of the products described or their suitability for a particular application. Any existing industrial property rights must be observed. The quality of our products is guaranteed under Florrea General Conditions of Sale。