Sodium Diisobutyl Monothiophosphate (MTP) Supplier South Africa

What Is Sodium Diisobutyl Monothiophosphate?

Sodium diisobutyl monothiophosphate (MTP or DIBMTP) is a monothiophosphate (MTP) collector — the counterpart of dithiophosphate (DTP) collectors but with only one sulfur atom on the phosphorus centre (P=S, P-OH) rather than two (P=S, P-S⁻). This structural difference profoundly changes the adsorption chemistry: monothiophosphates adsorb much more selectively on gold and silver surfaces compared to copper and iron sulphides, making them highly specific collectors for precious metals in the presence of iron sulphide gangue. MTPs are among the few collector types with genuinely selective activity for native gold.

Gold and Silver Selective Flotation

Sodium diisobutyl MTP is used as a selective collector or co-collector for gold and silver in circuits where xanthate or DTP collector activity on pyrite and other iron sulphides is unacceptable. At high pH (>10), where xanthate collection of pyrite is low, DIBMTP provides additional selective recovery of gold that xanthates alone miss. In high-pyrite gold ores, a combination of a short-chain xanthate at low dosage plus DIBMTP as co-collector is an established approach to maximise gold recovery while maintaining concentrate grade.

Supply Details

Terracore Chemicals supplies sodium diisobutyl MTP in 200 L drums. Technical data and circuit-specific dosage guidance are available, including for use in combination with xanthate and dithiophosphate primary collectors.