An in situ ATR-FTIR study of the adsorption kinetics of xanthate on germanium

The in situ adsorption of n-heptyl xanthate on a germanium multiple internal reflection element was studied at constant ionic strength and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used in the investigation of the germanium surface. The kinetics of heptyl xanthate adsorption was evaluated using the integrated absorbance of a sub-band under the vibration at 1200 cm−1. This vibration was assigned to the adsorbed xanthate molecule. It was shown that the adsorption of heptyl xanthate can be represented by a pseudo-first-order rate law and a monodentate binding of the xanthate to the germanium surface is proposed. During the adsorption of xanthate, the dimeric form of xanthate was simultaneously formed.