Uptake of Ethyl Xanthate to Metal Organic Frameworks

As the mining industry spreads to new areas in the arctic regions, the need for re-useable efficient methods for mine chemicals' recycling increases. Especially in the case of xanthates, which are used as collectors for many metals from ore. Xanthates are very toxic to aquatic life either directly or indirectly and cause potentially severe health problems to humans after long-term exposure. In the present work, potassium ethyl xanthate (KEX) was observed to coordinate into metal organic frameworks (MOFs). HKUST-1 and its post-synthetically modified forms were observed to behave most effectively of the studied MOFs at low concentrations of KEX. Differences in the uptake of KEX were detected regarding the synthesis method in the case of MIL-100(Fe) synthetized by solvothermal and mechanochemical methods. Other studied MOFs, UiO-66 and MIL-100(Al)/MIL-96(Al), were not observed to be effective in KEX uptake.