Chemisorption of Thiols on Metals and Metal Sulfides

This chapter reviews the adsorption of thiols at metal and metal sulfide surfaces. The motivation for studying these systems derives from the interaction of this interesting group of organic compounds with native metal and sulfide mineral surfaces being the key chemical step in the separation and concentration of such minerals from their ores by froth flotation. A number of different species can be formed by the interaction of thiols with metals and sulfides, the identity of the adsorbate depending on the particular thiol and mineral, the adsorption conditions, and the extent of reaction. This review focuses on the chemisorbed species formed in these systems. The concept of chemisorption is one of the formation of chemical bonds between the thiol and atoms in the mineral surface without removal of component atoms from their positions in the metal or metal sulfide lattice.