Collecting ability of easily desorbed xanthates

The analysis focuses on collecting ability of easily desorbed (ED-forms) ethyl and butyl xanthates. The authors give visual proof of “dry” spot extension on mineral surface when xanthates that are active relative to air–water interface are desorbed from it. It is shown that ED-forms of agents, being products of interaction between xanthates and heavy metal salts, can remove water from film between mineral particle and air bubble. The main force on water in the film is conditioned by surface tension nonuniformity at the moment of local rupture and by surface pressure of molecules in the film of agent ED-forms. The collecting ability of ED-forms of xanthate is determined as the rate of its influence on water in the film. The forces exerted on water in the film of ED-forms of ethyl and butyl xanthates are estimated numerically. The dependence of volumetric water flow from the film on the surface tension of agent ED-forms active at air–water interface is found. It is shown that collecting ability of an agent is dependent on surface tension of solution of its ED-forms and is governed by structure of hydrocarbon fragment of the collector.