Study of Galena/potassium ethyl xanthate system by x-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy

The mechanism of fixation of potassium ethyl xanthate at low concentration on lead sulphide has been investigated with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that from the first moment of reaction there is nucleation and crystallization of Pb-ethyl-xanthate salts and this phenomenon starts from small areas on the surface of PbS. The kinetics of reaction depends on some parameters, like concentration of solution and temperature, but also on PbS surface state, in particular on oxidation state.