Sodium Amyl Xanthate (SAX)

Chemical Appearance
Sodium Amyl Xanthate (SAX) is a sightly yellow or grey yellow powder or pellet. It is soluble in water and decomposes easily in the presence of acid and heat. It has a
very pungent odour.
Chemical Applications and Strengths
Sodium Amyl Xanthate (SAX) is an extremely efficient chemical compound and therefore, has many industrial applications. It is most widely used as a very strong collector in the mining industry. Its main applications and strengths are:
• It is used as a collector in the mining industry. Collectors are chemicals that selectively attach to the surface of the mineral, making the mineral hydrophobic. Hydrophobicity is necessary for air bubble attachment in the precious metal extraction processes.
• Sodium Amyl Xanthate is the most powerful collector among the xanthates.
• It is extensively used in the flotation process of sulfide ores. It works as an excellent collector for the flotation of Copper Nickel sulfide ores as well as gold associated with pyrite.
• It is also used in the flotation process of non ferrous metal minerals.
• It is used in various hydrometallurgical processes.
• It is also used as a vulcanisation accelerator for the rubber industry.
• Being a powerful collector it is used in rougher flotation processes.