Potassium amyl xanthate (/pəˈtæsiəm ˌæmɪl ˈzænθeɪt/) is an
organosulfur compound with the chemical formula CH
3(CH
2)
4OCS
2K. It is a pale yellow powder with a pungent odor that is soluble in water. It is widely used in the mining industry for the separation of
ores using the
flotation process.
Production and properties
As typical for
xanthates, potassium amyl xanthate is prepared by reacting ''n''-
amyl alcohol with
carbon disulfide and
potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula K OH, and is commonly called caustic potash.
Along with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), KOH is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications, most of which utili ...
.
: CH
3(CH
2)
4OH + CS
2 + KOH → CH
3(CH
2)
4OCS
2K + H
2O
Potassium amyl xanthate is a pale yellow powder. Its solutions are relatively stable between pH 8 and 13 with a maximum of stability at pH 10.
Related compounds
*Sodium amyl xanthate is used in the separation of nickel and copper from their ores.
Safety
The is 90-148 mg/kg (oral, rat).
[Kathrin-Maria Roy "Xanthates" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2005, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.]
It is a biodegradable compound.
References
{{reflist
Salts
Organosulfur compounds