Industrial uses
A xanthate with less than 6 carbons
in the alkyl group does not produce frothing alone, while octyl xanthate will produce froth
on its own but will diminish froth if mixed with alcohol.
Mixing a longer chain xanthate (amyl) with a short chain alcohol increases the volume
of the froth. The froth power increases strongly when amyl xanthate is combined with an
alcohol containing 7–8 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon radical. Xanthates with a shorter
chain length (ethyl) decrease the froth power for alcohols with 5 or less carbon atoms.
