What Does Xanthates Mean?

Xanthate usually refers to a salt with the formula ROCS⁻ ₂M⁺ , thus O-esters of dithiocarbonate. The name xanthates is derived from Greek ξανθός xanthos, meaning “yellowish, golden”, and indeed most xanthate salts are yellow. They were discovered and named in 1823 by Danish chemist William Christopher Zeise.

What is xanthate chemistry?

Xanthate, any of a class of organic salts formed by treatment of an alcohol with carbon disulfide in the presence of an alkali.

What are Xanthates for?

Xanthates are used in the mining industry as flotation collectors of gold, silver, lead, copper or nickel ores. The flotation circuit produces air bubbles covered in concentrated metal ore, which are recovered as concentrate.