Sodium Ethyl Xanthate, Sodium Ethyl Trithiocarbonate, Sodium Ethyl Xanthogenate, Sodium Ethyl Dithiocarbonate, SEX, NaEX, 140-90-9

Sodium Ethyl Xanthate, Sodium Ethyl Trithiocarbonate, Sodium Ethyl Xanthogenate, Sodium Ethyl Dithiocarbonate, SEX, NaEX, 140-90-9

Chemical Identity

• Name: Sodium Ethyl Xanthate

• CAS No: 140-90-9

• Formula: C₃H₅OS₂Na

• Appearance: Yellowish powder or pellets, with a characteristic pungent odor.

• Solubility: Readily soluble in water, forming alkaline solutions.

Mechanism of Action in Flotation

• SEX is a collector reagent in mineral flotation.

• It adsorbs onto the surface of sulfide minerals (like copper, lead, zinc) by forming a hydrophobic film.

• This hydrophobicity allows mineral particles to attach to air bubbles and float, separating them from gangue.

• Because of its short ethyl chain, SEX is more selective than longer-chain xanthates, meaning it targets specific minerals without collecting too many unwanted ones.

Applications

• Copper ores → effective for chalcopyrite and other copper sulfides.

• Lead ores → galena flotation.

• Zinc ores → sphalerite flotation (often with activators like copper sulfate).

• Mixed sulfide ores → used when selectivity is important.

Advantages

• High selectivity → reduces contamination from unwanted minerals.

• Fast action → quickly adsorbs onto mineral surfaces.

• Cost-effective → widely available and economical.

Limitations

• Lower collecting strength compared to longer-chain xanthates (like PAX).

• Not suitable for refractory or very fine ores where stronger collectors are needed.

• Environmental concerns → xanthates can degrade into carbon disulfide (CS₂), which is toxic.

Safety & Handling

• Classified as hazardous: irritant, flammable, and toxic if ingested.

• Requires careful storage (cool, dry, away from acids and oxidizers).

• Waste management is critical due to potential CS₂ release.

Xanthate Usage Table

Other Names

• NaEX → short form for Sodium Ethyl Xanthate

• Sodium O-ethyl dithiocarbonate → IUPAC-style name

• Sodium ethyl trithiocarbonate → alternative naming in some literature

• Xanthogenate, sodium ethyl → older terminology

• Sodium ethyl xanthogenate → variant used in mining chemical catalogs

• Sodium ethyl dithiocarbonate → descriptive chemical name