Potassium Isobutyl Xanthate (PIBX) Supplier South Africa

What Is Potassium Isobutyl Xanthate?

Potassium isobutyl xanthate (PIBX) is the isobutyl form of C4 potassium xanthate, produced from isobutanol, carbon disulfide, and potassium hydroxide. Like its sodium counterpart SIBX, the branched isobutyl geometry provides marginally better selectivity against iron sulphides (particularly pyrrhotite and pyrite) compared to the straight-chain n-butyl form (PBX). PIBX is especially widely used in PGM and nickel sulphide flotation, where iron sulphide gangue minerals are abundant and must be excluded from concentrate to meet smelter specifications.

PGM and Nickel Circuit Applications

In South African PGM flotation circuits (Merensky, UG2, and Platreef ores), PIBX is the benchmark potassium xanthate collector, used alone or in combination with dithiophosphate co-collectors to achieve the selectivity against pyrrhotite and chromite required. In nickel sulphide circuits, PIBX provides good pentlandite collection while partially depressing pyrrhotite at moderately alkaline pH. The combination of PIBX with depressants such as sodium metabisulphite or carboxymethyl cellulose is standard practice in these circuits.

Supply Details

Terracore Chemicals supplies PIBX in 25 kg bags and fibre drums with reliable availability to PGM, nickel, and copper operations across Southern Africa. Technical data sheets and formulation guidance for collector blend optimisation are available on request.