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The collecting of any flotation agent is measured by the rare and completeness of mineral flotation per unit of collector used. With xanthates, this properly has long been considered a function this property has long been considered a function of the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol radical of the xanthate: The greater the number of carbon atoms, the greater is the collecting power. In any process as complex as flotation, however, a simple rule is certain to have limitations. However, a simple rule is certain to have limitations. Because different sulfide minerals respond differently to the adsorption of collectors the relative collecting powers of the various xanthates necessarily vary from one mineral to another. Thus, amyl xanthate is used frequently in place of ethyl xanthate as a copper collector because – despite the general rule – amyl xanthate floats less iron (pyrite) than does ethyl xanthate. |
