Potassium Butyl Xanthate (PBX) Supplier South Africa

What Is Potassium Butyl Xanthate?

Potassium butyl xanthate (PBX) is the potassium salt of butyl xanthic acid, the C4 member of the potassium xanthate collector series. It is the potassium analogue of sodium butyl xanthate (SBX) and offers comparable flotation performance in sulphide circuits. PBX is produced as n-butyl and isobutyl forms, with the isobutyl form (PIBX) tending toward higher selectivity. In practice, PBX provides a good balance of collecting strength and selectivity suitable for copper, lead, and zinc sulphide flotation across a wide pH range.

Flotation Applications

PBX is effective as a primary collector for chalcopyrite, galena, and bornite flotation and as a co-collector in polymetallic sulphide circuits. Its moderate strength makes it easier to manage selectivity against pyrite than longer-chain amyl xanthates, while its better collecting power than short-chain C2–C3 xanthates maintains acceptable recovery on harder-to-float minerals. In gold circuits, PBX is used in combination with stronger collectors for circuits where gold is associated with base metal sulphides.

Supply Details

Terracore Chemicals supplies PBX in 25 kg bags and fibre drums. Technical data sheets and application guidance are available on request for both n-butyl and isobutyl forms.