xanthate
- noun
- /ˈzænˌθeɪt/
- Specialized
- In the mining industry, xanthate is commonly used as a flotation agent to separate valuable minerals from ore.
Examples
-
These include thickening agents, absorbents, starch-encapsulated pesticides, starch xanthate for recovering heavy metals from wastewater, and natural components for making degradable plastics.
Academic text (1996) -
The chemical stability of xanthate makes it an effective choice for processing various types of ores.
-
Researchers are exploring new applications for xanthate in environmentally friendly mining techniques.
Compounds
- Specialized
A chemical from plant fiber that is used to make rayon and cellophane
Surface Forms
Morphology
xanthate = xanthic (opaque) = xanth + ate
The combining form 'xanth-' is not a standalone English word and the suffix '-ate' is a technical chemical naming morpheme, so the meaning is not recoverable by an average B1 learner.
Etymology
Xanthate comes from the Greek root xanthos meaning 'yellow' because many of these compounds are yellow, and the ending -ate shows it is a salt or related chemical. So xanthate is a yellowish salt or ester used in mining to help float and collect ore.
