Sodium Amyl Xanthate

Brief overview

Sodium amyl xanthate (SAX) is a yellow salt with a pungent odour. It is an organ Sulphur compound with the formula ROCS₂^-M⁺. Xanthate salts are produced by the reaction of an alcohol with sodium or potassium hydroxide and carbon disulfide. The reaction involves the attack of the alkoxide salt.

ROH + CS₂ + NaOH → ROCS₂Na + H₂O

It is soluble in water and decomposes easily when reacted with acid and heat.

Manufacturing Process

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.

Some commercially important xanthate salts include:

Sodium amyl xanthate (SAX), C₅H₁₁OCSSNa

sodium ethyl xanthate (SEX), CH₃CH₂OCS₂Na,

potassium ethyl xanthate, CH₃CH₂OCS₂K,

sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX)

sodium isobutyl xanthate (SIBX)

potassium amyl xanthate (PAX)

Mineral Industry
Sodium amyl xanthate is the most powerful collector of xanthates and is widely used in the flotation treatment of sulphide ores, especially for the flotation treatment of copper-nickel composite sulphide ores and gold mines related to pyrite. It is used in the flotation process of non-ferrous metal minerals, where strong but not selective collectors are required.

Other Applications
It is used in hydrometallurgical processes and applicable as a vulcanization accelerator for rubber industry.