Isopropyl xanthate

Isopropyl xanthate (CAS 108-25-8), also known as Proxan, is a xanthate collector used in the selective flotation of sulfide ores. It functions by adsorbing onto mineral surfaces to render them hydrophobic. This chemical process enables the efficient separation of valuable minerals from gangue in froth flotation circuits. In copper, lead, and zinc sulfide processing, it acts as a primary collector to concentrate target minerals.

This concentration occurs ahead of smelting to ensure high-purity outputs. Gold and silver recovery operations use it to float sulfide-associated precious metals that would otherwise report to tailings during the process. Nickel and molybdenum concentrators select it for its controlled collecting power, which allows grade-recovery balance to be tuned at the dosing stage. It is also applied in complex polymetallic ore circuits.

In these circuits, selective depression of non-target sulfides is required alongside collector addition. Isopropyl xanthate is supplied as a yellow to pale-green powder or granule for industrial use. The granular form is often preferred for safer handling and dust reduction in plant environments. It is available in technical grade, the standard specification for mining reagent applications.

Typical commercial packaging includes 25 kg bags and bulk quantities suited to concentrator-scale consumption. This ensures reliable supply chains for large-scale mineral processing and extraction facilities worldwide.