Investigation of the formation of precipitates of copper cations with sulfhydryl collectors

Abstract

The formation processes of precipitates of copper cations with diethyldithiocarbamate, xanthates (ethyl and buthyl), and isobutyl dithiophosphate are investigated using potentiometric and optical methods. The minimal value of the potential of the copper electrode ( E Cu ) with the formation of precipitates agrees well with the solubility product (SP) and forms the following series: copper diethyldithiocarbamate ( E Cu = -335 mV, SP = 2.8 × 10 -30 ) > butyl xanthate ( E Cu = -225 mV, SP ≈ 10 -26 ) > ethyl xanthate ( E Cu = -163 mV, SP = 4 × 10 -24 ) > isobutyl dithiophosphate ( E Cu = -60 mV, SP ≈ 10 -18 ). The visible agglomerates of precipitate particles are observed for all the studied sulfhydryl collectors (xanthates, dithiocarbamates, dithiophosphates) with the ethyl group of hydrocarbon radical. The butyl xanthate and isobutyl dithiophosphate form colloid precipitates with copper cations.