Sodium dithiophosphate
Encyclopedia
Sodium dithiophosphate is the salt Na3PS2O2. This salt is used as a flotation agent
in molybdenite
mineral concentration from ores, where it is usually known as "Nokes reagent." The salt is generated by the reaction of phosphorus pentasulfide
with sodium hydroxide, often using impure reagents to obtain a mixture of the desired salt and related thiophosphates and oxidized species. Molybdenite particles, which are normally hydrophobic, become hydrophilic in the presence of this salt. In this context, the Nokes reagent is called a "depressant," since it suppresses the flotation tendency of the solids.
Froth flotation
Froth flotation is a process for selectively separating hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic. This is used in several processing industries...
in molybdenite
Molybdenite
Molybdenite is a mineral of molybdenum disulfide, MoS2. Similar in appearance and feel to graphite, molybdenite has a lubricating effect that is a consequence of its layered structure. The atomic structure consists of a sheet of molybdenum atoms sandwiched between sheets of sulfur atoms...
mineral concentration from ores, where it is usually known as "Nokes reagent." The salt is generated by the reaction of phosphorus pentasulfide
Phosphorus pentasulfide
Phosphorus pentasulfide is the inorganic compound with the formula P4S10. This yellow solid is the one of two phosphorus sulfides of commercial value...
with sodium hydroxide, often using impure reagents to obtain a mixture of the desired salt and related thiophosphates and oxidized species. Molybdenite particles, which are normally hydrophobic, become hydrophilic in the presence of this salt. In this context, the Nokes reagent is called a "depressant," since it suppresses the flotation tendency of the solids.