Mining — Process Challenge

Flotation Collectors, Depressants & Activators

Optimize collector, depressant, and activator combinations for target mineral recovery
Updated Jun 2026
Solution Approach

RawSource supplies the base chemicals that go into these programs. We can help with product selection, grade matching, and sourcing from multiple origins for supply security.

Typical Treatment Workflow
1
System Assessment
Characterize operating conditions — fluid composition, temperature, pressure, flow, and H2S/CO2/water cut — and benchmark current treatment performance.
2
Chemistry Selection
Match scale and corrosion inhibitors, biocides, or demulsifiers to the operating envelope, factoring compatibility, regulatory constraints, and downstream impacts.
3
Field Trial & Dosing
Determine treat rates through bottle and field trials, and configure continuous or batch delivery and packaging (drums, totes, ISO tanks) to logistics.
4
Monitoring & Adjustment
Track corrosion coupon/ER rates, residual inhibitor, and separator and water-quality performance, adjusting chemistry and dose as wells change.
Recommended Chemistries (6)
Potassium amyl xanthate (PAX)
CAS 2720-73-2
Specialty Additives
Sulfide mineral collector
Strong sulfide collector: chemisorbs on the mineral surface making it hydrophobic so it attaches to air bubbles
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Sodium isobutyl xanthate (SIBX)
CAS 25306-75-6
Specialty Additives
Sulfide mineral collector
Shorter-chain xanthate giving more selective sulfide collection at lower cost
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Potassium ethyl xanthate (PEX)
CAS 140-90-9
Specialty Additives
Wetting
Potassium ethyl xanthate is the shortest-chain xanthate collector, giving the most selective (lowest-collecting-power) sulfide flotation for cleaner separations alongside PAX/SIBX
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Oleic Acid
CAS 112-80-1
Acids & Salts
Oxide mineral collector
Fatty-acid collector for oxide/non-sulfide minerals (e.g. apatite, fluorite, hematite)
Melting Point: 16 °C   Boiling Point: 286 °C at 100 mmHg   Density: 0.89 at 25 °C
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Copper sulfate pentahydrate
CAS 7758-99-8
Acids & Salts
Biocidal Action
3288 (COPPER SULFATE PENTAHYDRATE) · Class
Activator: copper ions adsorb onto sphalerite so xanthate can collect zinc sulfide
Melting Point: 147 °C (dehydrates)   Boiling Point: 653 °C at 760 mmHg (decomposes)   Density: 2.284
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Sodium Silicate E
CAS 1344-09-8
Specialty Additives
pH Adjustment
1759 (SODIUM SILICATE) · Class
Gangue depressant/dispersant that keeps silica and clays from reporting to concentrate
Melting Point: 1089 °C   Boiling Point: BOILING POINT: 100 °C -6H20 /NONAHYDRATE/   Density: 1.1 to 1.7 at 20 °C
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