Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX) Supplier South Africa

What Is Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate?

Sodium isobutyl xanthate (SIBX) is the isobutyl form of C4 xanthate, made from isobutanol, carbon disulfide, and sodium hydroxide. It is one of the most widely consumed xanthate collectors in the global flotation chemicals market, found in sulphide flotation circuits across gold, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc operations. The branched isobutyl group gives SIBX slightly different adsorption geometry compared to n-butyl xanthate (SBX), typically resulting in marginally better selectivity against pyrite at comparable pH conditions.

Selectivity and Performance Characteristics

SIBX is the preferred collector in circuits where selectivity against iron sulphides (pyrite, pyrrhotite) is important — particularly in nickel sulphide operations where pyrrhotite depression is a major process challenge, and in copper porphyry circuits treating high-pyrite ores. In gold circuits, SIBX provides excellent collection of free gold and refractory gold in sulphide minerals. It is typically used at pH 8–11, with depressants (lime, sodium cyanide, NaMBS) applied in parallel to control selectivity.

Levering en toepassingen

Terracore Chemicals supplies SIBX in 25 kg bags and 200 kg fibre drums to mining operations across Southern and Sub-Saharan Africa. SIBX is available on short lead times and we can advise on dosage optimisation and collector blending strategies for specific ore types.