Product Overview

Potassium Amyl Xanthate, commonly known as PAX, is an organosulfur compound of the xanthate family with the molecular formula C6H11KOS2. It is supplied as pale yellow to yellow pellets or powder that dissolve readily in water, and it is one of the strongest collectors among the commercial xanthates. PAX is used worldwide in froth flotation circuits for copper, gold bearing sulfide, lead zinc, nickel and complex polymetallic ores, where high collecting power is required to lift valuable sulfide minerals into the concentrate.

Key Attributes

Key Highlights

• STRONGEST XANTHATE COLLECTOR: The five carbon amyl chain gives PAX higher collecting power than ethyl, propyl and butyl xanthates, making it the preferred choice for difficult and refractory sulfide ores.
• 90% MIN ASSAY: Industrial grade pellets with active content of 90% min, free alkali 0.2% max and moisture plus volatile matter 4.0% max for consistent reagent dosing.
• FAST DISSOLVING PELLET FORM: Water soluble pellets prepare into a stable dosing solution quickly, reducing manual handling time at the reagent station.
• WIDE PROCESS WINDOW: Performs across a broad pH range and is commonly applied in both rougher and scavenger flotation stages.
• LOWER DOSAGE REQUIREMENT: Because collecting strength is high, effective dosage is typically lower per ton of ore than shorter chain xanthates, which supports reagent cost control.
• BULK EXPORT PACKAGING: Standard 900 kg wooden boxes designed for container loading and long distance ocean transport.
• DOCUMENTATION READY: Batch COA, TDS and MSDS issued with every shipment to support technical review and customs clearance.
• RELIABLE LEAD TIME: Orders are shipped within 3 weeks, with a minimum order quantity of 1 metric ton.

Product Description

Potassium Amyl Xanthate (PAX), CAS 2720-73-2, is the potassium salt of O-pentyl dithiocarbonic acid. As a member of the xanthate collector family, it belongs to the higher alkyl chain grades and is therefore classed as a strong, less selective collector. Industrial grade PAX is supplied at 90% min active content in pellet or powder form, with a characteristic pale yellow to yellow color.

In the flotation cell, PAX adsorbs chemically onto sulfide mineral surfaces and renders them hydrophobic, so that valuable particles attach to rising air bubbles and report to the froth concentrate while gangue minerals remain in the pulp. The longer amyl chain produces a denser and more hydrophobic adsorption layer than shorter chain xanthates, which is why PAX is selected where recovery is the priority. The collector remains stable in alkaline pulp between pH 8 and pH 13 with optimum stability around pH 10, and it is normally dosed as a 1% to 15% aqueous solution prepared at the plant reagent station.

Because PAX collects strongly, selectivity against iron sulfides must be managed through depressant choice, pH control and staged dosing. Dideu Group recommends that buyers confirm the final reagent scheme through metallurgical test work on the actual ore, and our technical team can review ore type, flotation stage, grind size and recovery targets to support collector selection.

Minimum order quantity is 1 metric ton and standard lead time is within 3 weeks from order confirmation. Shipments move by sea in export packaging suitable for container transport.

Applications

Gold Bearing and Refractory Sulfide Ores

PAX is widely used for flotation of gold associated with pyrite and other iron sulfides, including refractory gold ores where strong collection is needed to maximize gold recovery into the sulfide concentrate. It is commonly applied in rougher and scavenger stages of gold circuits.

Copper Sulfide Ore Beneficiation

For chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite type ores, PAX provides the collecting strength required to recover coarse and slowly floating copper sulfide particles, and it is used both in primary copper circuits and in copper recovery from leach residues.

Lead, Zinc and Polymetallic Complex Ores

In polymetallic sulfide ores, PAX serves as the collector for galena and sphalerite flotation, usually combined with depressants and activators to control separation between valuable minerals.

Nickel and Copper Nickel Sulfide Ores

PAX is applied in pentlandite and copper nickel sulfide flotation, where it supports nickel recovery while silicate gangue is controlled with dispersants.

Oxidized Sulfide and Oxide Ores After Sulfidization

Where oxidized copper and lead minerals or weathered sulfide surfaces are first treated with a sulfidizing agent, PAX acts as the collector for the newly formed sulfide film, restoring floatability to otherwise hard to recover values.

Tailings Reprocessing and Secondary Resource Recovery

PAX is used in tailings retreatment projects and in emerging recovery routes for metal values from secondary materials, where its high collecting strength helps recover fine and partially oxidized sulfide particles that weaker collectors leave behind.

Research and Laboratory Use

Higher assay grades are used in mineral processing research, microflotation studies, surface chemistry investigation of collector adsorption, and in laboratory screening programs evaluating collector combinations. PAX may also be used in academic studies of dithiocarbonate chemistry as a representative amyl chain xanthate.

Specifications

Actual results for content, free alkali, moisture and appearance are stated on the COA issued with each shipment. Grades with higher assay are available for laboratory use on inquiry.

Packaging and Shipping

Other packaging sizes and small pack formats for laboratory use can be arranged on request.

Storage Recommendations

• Keep packaging tightly sealed after each use to limit exposure to air and humidity.
• Store in a cool, dry and well ventilated warehouse, away from moisture and heat sources.
• Protect from direct sunlight and avoid prolonged storage at elevated temperatures.
• Use on a first in first out basis, since xanthate products gradually lose strength with long term storage.

Shipping

Goods are shipped by sea in export packaging suitable for container loading. Lead time is within 3 weeks from order confirmation. Loading configuration and documentation requirements are arranged according to order quantity and destination.

Company Profile

Dideu Group is a professional supplier of fine chemicals and specialty chemicals, serving customers in global markets with a full range of products from lab-scale reagents to industrial quantities. Our mining chemicals line covers xanthate collectors, frothers and related flotation reagents used in sulfide ore beneficiation. We work directly with qualified production partners and control every shipment through batch testing, so that assay, free alkali and moisture results are documented before goods leave the warehouse.

Every order is supported by COA, TDS and MSDS documentation for technical review, procurement approval and customs clearance. Our sales and technical team responds to inquiries promptly and can review your ore type, flotation stage and current reagent scheme to help you select the right collector grade. Dideu Group focuses on long term supply relationships, consistent product quality and clear communication throughout the order process.

FAQ

1. What is the minimum order quantity for Potassium Amyl Xanthate?

The MOQ is 1 metric ton. Larger contract quantities are welcome and can be discussed for scheduled deliveries.

2. What is the lead time?

Standard lead time is within 3 weeks from order confirmation, depending on quantity and packaging configuration.

3. What packaging options do you offer?

Dideu supplies PAX in 900 kg wooden boxes with inner liner as the standard export packaging. Other packaging sizes can be arranged according to your order quantity and handling requirements.

4. What payment terms do you accept?

We accept T/T and L/C. Terms are confirmed in the sales contract according to order size and destination.

5. Do you provide COA and technical documents?

Yes. A batch COA stating content, free alkali, moisture and appearance is issued with every shipment, together with TDS and MSDS for technical review and customs clearance.

6. How do you ship the goods?

Bulk orders are shipped by sea in export packaging suitable for container transport. Loading plans and documentation are arranged according to your destination requirements.

7. How should PAX be dosed in a flotation plant?

Pellets are dissolved in water and dosed as a solution, typically prepared at 1% to 15% concentration. Because PAX is a strong collector, the actual dosage should be set from metallurgical test work on your ore rather than transferred directly from another circuit.