Mercaptans are the simplest collectors from the thiol group and are derived from alcohols,
ROH, in which the oxygen is replaced by sulfur, to yield RSH. They can be made by sulfidizing
alcohols but usually other methods are used. The name “mercaptan” comes from
their ability to form water-insoluble mercury compounds. One of the unusual characteristics
of mercaptans is that a short-chain mercaptan has a skunk-like odor. Mercaptans,
which are made from paraffin hydrocarbon, are only slightly soluble in water. One of the
most important properties of mercaptans is that they can form water-insoluble metallic compounds.
Although the chemistry of mercaptans has been studied in depth by Golikov and
others, their importance as flotation collectors has not been recognized. Some of the mercaptans
are used as collectors for flotation of molybdenum, gold-bearing sulfides and enargite
(Orfoms, Philips Petroleum).
