Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX) is a highly effective, selective collector widely used in the flotation of sulfide minerals, particularly copper (Cu), copper-molybdenum (Cu-Mo), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and precious metals such as gold (Au) and platinum group metals (PGM).
As one of the strongest short-chain xanthate collectors, SIBX offers excellent selectivity against iron sulfides (pyrite, pyrrhotite) while maintaining strong collecting power for copper and other valuable sulfide minerals.

 

Technical Specifications

ITEMS SPECIFICATIONS
Drying Synthetic
Appearnace yellow powder or rod-like pellet yellow powder or rod-like pellet
Purity ≥90.0% ≥82.0%
Free alkali ≤0.2% ≤0.5%
Moisture and Volatile ≤4.0% ≤10.0%

 

Packaging and Storage

  • Net weight 50kg plastic woven bag or 110kg steel drum.
  • Store in a cool, dry, ventilated warehouse, to be protected from damp, torrid sunlight and fire.

 

Key Benefits & Properties of Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX)

  • Powerful collecting ability for copper and molybdenum sulfide ores.
  • High selectivity against iron sulfides (pyrite, pyrrhotite).
  • Fast flotation kinetics, reducing flotation time and increasing throughput.
  • Effective over a wide pH range (typically 8–12).
  • Low dosage requirement compared to longer-chain xanthates.
  • Fully soluble in water, easy to prepare and feed.
  • Biodegradable under normal environmental conditions.

 

Applications of Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX)

  • Primary collector in copper sulfide flotation.
  • Copper-molybdenum separation circuits.
  • Bulk Cu-Pb flotation and subsequent separation.
  • Precious metal (Au, Ag, PGE) recovery from sulfide ores.
  • Zinc and lead sulfide ore flotation (often in combination with weaker collectors).

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX)?
SIBX is the sodium salt of isobutyl xanthic acid, belonging to the alkyl xanthate family. It is a powerful collector used in froth flotation to selectively separate valuable sulfide minerals from gangue.

How does SIBX compare to SIPX and PAX?
SIBX is stronger than Sodium Isopropyl Xanthate (SIPX) but weaker than Sodium Amyl Xanthate (PAX) or Potassium Amyl Xanthate. It provides better selectivity against pyrite than PAX while being more powerful than SIPX, making it ideal for most copper circuits.

Can SIBX be used for oxidized ores?
SIBX can recover slightly oxidized/tarnished sulfide minerals when activated with copper sulfate or sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). For heavily oxidized ores, sulfidization followed by xanthate flotation is common.

Is Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate selective against pyrite?
Yes, SIBX exhibits excellent selectivity against iron sulfides (pyrite/pyrrhotite) when used with appropriate depressants (lime, sodium cyanide, or zinc sulfate).

Is SIBX environmentally friendly?
SIBX is biodegradable and breaks down into naturally occurring compounds (carbon disulfide and isobutyl alcohol). Tailings containing xanthates continue to degrade under normal environmental conditions.

 

Where can I buy high-quality Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX)?

You can contact us via email [email protected] for offers and bulk orders.