The environmental fate of flotation collectors in mineral processing operations: ethyl xanthate as an example.

Experiments were carried out to determine the mechanism by which hydrogen peroxide reacts with xanthates. A number of degradation products were identified and the oxidative decomposition reaction pathway considered in the broader context of xanthate decompositon. The intereaction of ethyl perxanthate with goethite particles was studied in more detail using attenuated total reflectance. The results give some insight into the environmental fate of ethyl xanthate in tailings streams and a basis for assessing the environmental importance of such species in tailings dams. Strategies for the destruction of residual xanthate in waste water streams are discussed in terms of likely reaction products.
Experiments were carried out to determine the mechanism by which hydrogen peroxide reacts with xanthates. A number of degradation products were identified and the oxidative decomposition reaction pathway considered in the broader context of xanthate decompositon. The intereaction of ethyl perxanthate with goethite particles was studied in more detail using attenuated total reflectance. The results give some insight into the environmental fate of ethyl xanthate in tailings streams and a basis for assessing the environmental importance of such species in tailings dams. Strategies for the destruction of residual xanthate in waste water streams are discussed in terms of likely reaction products.