Potassium Ethyl Xanthate (PEX) Supplier South Africa
The most selective potassium xanthate — a C2 collector for precious metal and selective sulphide flotation where pyrite and iron sulphide depression without high pH addition is required.
Request a QuoteQuick Specs
| CAS No. | 140-89-6 |
| Formula | C₂H₅OCS₂K |
| Appearance | Yellow powder or granules |
| Purity | ≥ 90% |
| Moisture | ≤ 1% |
| pH (5% solution) | ~8–9 |
| Packaging | 25 kg bags |
| Grade | Technical / Flotation |
What Is Potassium Ethyl Xanthate?
Potassium ethyl xanthate (PEX) is the potassium salt analogue of sodium ethyl xanthate (SEX), containing a two-carbon ethyl alkyl chain. It is the most selective and weakest collector in the potassium xanthate series and is used where maximum selectivity against iron sulphides is required with minimal pH adjustment. PEX and SEX are essentially interchangeable in flotation applications, with circuit choice between the two often determined by supply cost and local availability.
Selective Flotation Applications
PEX is used in precious metal circuits (gold, silver), in selective sulphide flotation where pyrite depression is essential at near-neutral pH, and in research-grade flotation studies. Its limited collecting power means it is suitable mainly for well-liberated, easily floatable sulphide minerals or for use in blends with stronger collectors where selectivity tuning is needed. In some complex PGM and gold ores, PEX is used as a “sensitiser” collector at low dosage to improve recovery of fine-grained noble sulphides.
Supply Details
Terracore Chemicals supplies PEX in 25 kg bags to flotation operations across Southern Africa. We advise on collector selection across the full xanthate and dithiophosphate range and on blend strategies for specific ore types and circuit objectives.
Applications
- Precious metal (gold, silver) selective flotation
- PGM sulphide flotation with high selectivity requirements
- Selectivity-optimised blends with longer xanthates
- Near-neutral pH selective sulphide flotation
- Laboratory collector screening and ore testing
- Silver-bearing galena and complex precious metal ores
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