Author(s)

Nedjar. Zohir, Bouhenguel. Mustapha, Djebaili Abd Elbaki

1Engineering laboratory of Chemical and Process Engineering.Sciences and Engineer Faculty, Industrial Chemistry Department, Med Khider Biskra University. ALGERIA.
2Engineering laboratory of Chemical and Process Engineering.Sciences and Engineer Faculty, Industrial Chemistry Department,Med Larbi Ben Mhidi oum elbouaghi University. ALGERIA.
3Engineering laboratory of Chemical and Process Engineering.Sciences and Engineer Faculty, Industrial Chemistry Department, L’hadj lakhdar Batna University. ALGERIA.

A lot of industries (chemical, mining) developed numerous processes based on the use of the adsorption, From then on, the resolution of practice problems pass inevitably by the understanding of fundamental concepts governing the phenomena of flotation and the interaction in the solid- liquid or solid - gas interface. In this study, we suggest proceeding to a theoretical and experimental study concerning the organic synthesis of an organo metallic product (KEX) by intermittent method and their use in the processes of sulphides flotation. Searches showed that the surface state after grinding resulted from a combination of oxidized sorts of sulfur treat type with copper sulphate and lead oxy-hydroxide thickness of which is very superior to 200 nm. The addition of an organometallic molecule sulphurated (Potassium ethyl xanthate KEX) in available concentrations of 1g/l (6, 24.10^-3 M) is going to lead the forming of an organometallic layer mixed in the galena surface. From weak concentrations in collector, the organometallic layer present in the mineral surface is mixed. It is formed by a complex xanthate type of lead (PbX, bandages IR in 1200 cm^-1), of dixanthogene (X₂ forms oxidized with the molecule of xanthate, bandages IR in 1262 cm^-1), of elementary sulfur and a certain proportion of initial superficial oxidized phases. The mechanism leading to the forming of PbX is the type of ionic exchanges. On the other hand, two types of different mechanisms can be at the origin of dixanthogene forming (X₂). A first type consists of a catalytic oxidation in the mineral surface with reduction of the dissolved oxygen. This type of mechanism depends essentially on the potential redox of the system. A second type brings in the forming of xanthate salts of lead by a mechanism of Ionic exchange (eq. 1) then their catalytic degradation (eq. 2): Pbⁿ + + n X^- → (Pb X) _n Equation 1: independent from the potential rédox. Pb(X) _n (catal. by PbS) + 1/2 O₂ + n/₂ H₂O → Pb (OH) _n + n/₂ X₂ Equation 2: dependent on the redox potential.

Flotation; Synthesis; Xanthate (KEX); Adsorption; Galena

N. Zohir, B. Mustapha and D. Elbaki, "Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Xanthate (KEX) in Sight of Their Utilization in the Processe s of Sulphides Flotation," Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, Vol. 8 No. 6, 2009, pp. 469-477. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2009.86041.