Octyl Hydroxamic Acid

Octyl Hydroxamic Acid is an organic compound. Hydroxamic acids are a class of organic compounds. They have the functional group RC(O)N(OH)R’ where R and R’ are organic residues and CO is the carbonyl group. They are amides. They are used extensively for the flotation of rare earth minerals during concentration and extraction of ores. Octyl Hydroxamic Acid is a very useful chemical compound which is made by the reaction of esters or acid chlorides with hydroxylamine salts. Its chemical formula is C9H19NO2.

Chemical Appearance

Octyl Hydroxamic Acid has the appearance of a dark yellow coloured solid. It has no distinct odour. It is readily soluble in water and also in alkaline solutions. It has a pH level between 10 to 13.

Chemical Applications and Strengths

Octyl Hydroxamic Acid or N-Hydroxynonanamide is an extremely useful chemical compound and therefore, has many industrial applications. Its main applications and strengths are:

• Octyl Hydroxamic Acid is most commonly used in mining industries.
• It is a very good collector and flotation agent especially with oxidised sulfide and different metallic oxides. It can even extract the ones that are very difficult to extract using other collector agents.
• It has a very strong collection power with wolframite, copper oxide ores, titanic iron, hematite, niobium ores, and many more.
• It can strongly extract many non ferrous metals as well.
• Octyl hydroxamic acid is a stronger collector than sodium oleate for the flotation of fine pyrochlore. It is because it has a higher chemisorption affinity of the hydroxamate to pyrochlore.
• It is used as an effective metal chelator.
• It has also been investigated for reprocessing of irradiated fuel.
• It is a strong floater of cobalt and copper in alkaline conditions.
• It is widely used for cancer therapy.
• It is also used as a mutagenic agent.
• Hydroxamic Acids are generally used as insecticides, anti-fungal agents, antimicrobials, siderophores and plant growth regulators, anti HIV, antimalarial, antineoplastic agents, tumour suppressors, MMP inhibitors and other applications.
• Its chain length increases along with the broadening of flotability.
• It is usually used by many as an aqueous solution.
• Its pH ranges from 10 to 13 and in this pH range the flotation and collection ability is extremely strong and effective.

Note: Octyl Hydroxamic Acid should be placed in an environment that is away from exposure to water and excessive heat of fire or sunlight. It has a tendency to solidify if it is placed in cold confinement.