Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division

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Potential Novel Grinding Methods for Future

By Veerendra Singh posted 09-09-2018 05:14 AM

  

Hi every body

Grinding is an important unit operation for all kinds of mineral processing operations. However, it is very energy intensive and inefficient process. I have read many articles on use of microwave, ultrasonic, shockwave, chemical additives, etc. to improve efficiency and efficiency of grinding process. These attempts have completed more than three decades and yet to get the commercial popularity. We presented a details analysis of limitation of these techniques in the recently published article on  Ore pre-treatment methods for grinding: journey and prospects (2018). So, now it is time to see beyond mechanical or chemical engineering and concepts from some other interdisciplinary streams such new materials, civil, biological, chemistry or geographical sciences need to be explored.  

In recent past the material science has made a significant progress and new materials such as ionic liquids, nano-particles, expansive solids, etc are getting developed. These materials have a huge potential to develop new sound and vibration free grinding technologies. These concepts are being studies mostly by civil and geological departments to understand rock weathering, cement manufacturing and earth science related processes.  The article written by De Silva et al (2016) explained use of expansive solids as an alternative to Conventional Rock Fragmentation Methods. The recently published article by Painter et al (2010) shown potential of ionic liquids for dissolution of coal which can lead to research for silent grinding of coal like sugar dissolution in water. Ghobadi & Babazadeh (2015) published a good article on experimental studies on the Effects of Cyclic Freezing–Thawing, Salt Crystallization, and Thermal Shock on the Physical and Mechanical Characteristics of Selected Sandstones.   Uroz et al (2009) recently published a article on mineral weathering by bacteria: ecology, actors and mechanisms.  They carried out studies on potential applications of genomic resources to the study of bacterial weathering.  These studies indicated that these new concepts have huge potential to develop new and innovative technologies for ore grinding for new century.

( Email : veerendra.singh@tatasteel.com)

  • Singh, V., Dixit, P., Venugopal, R. and Venkatesh, K.B., 2018. Ore pre-treatment methods for grinding: journey and prospects. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, pp.1-15.
  • De Silva, R.V., Pathegama Gamage, R. and Anne Perera, M.S., 2016. An alternative to conventional rock fragmentation methods using SCDA: a review. Energies, 9(11), p.958.
  • Painter, P., Pulati, N., Cetiner, R., Sobkowiak, M., Mitchell, G. and Mathews, J., 2010. Dissolution and dispersion of coal in ionic liquids. Energy & Fuels, 24(3), pp.1848-1853.
  • Ghobadi, M.H. & Babazadeh, R. Rock Mech Rock Eng (2015) 48: 1001.
  • Uroz, S., Calvaruso, C., Turpault, M.P. and Frey-Klett, P., 2009. Mineral weathering by bacteria: ecology, actors and mechanisms. Trends in microbiology, 17(8), pp.378-387.
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