A critical review on the mechanisms of chemical additives used in grinding and their effects on the downstream processes

Abstract

Grinding aids (GAs) have been an important advent in the comminution circuits. Over the last few decades, in order to address the high energy consumption and scarcity of potable water for mineral processing, chemical additives have become a promising alternative. Using GAs can have some advantages such as enhancing grinding efficiency, reducing water usage, improving material flowability, and narrowing the particle size distribution of the grinding products. A study on the effect of GAs on size reduction units is crucial for the beneficiation value chain of minerals and the impact on downstream processes. However, our understanding of the effects of these materials on the particle size reduction is quite limited. This article analyses the literature, which used GAs and provides a comprehensive review of their applications in the ore beneficiation processes. The outcomes of this investigation indicated that the current understanding on the mechanism of GA effects focuses only on their impacts on the product fineness and size distribution, and neglecting the aspect of energy expended and physicochemical environment. The application of GAs is mainly for rationalisation of energy where the type of reagent, pH, and ionic strength of the grinding environment is important. Gaps in knowledge of GAs are discussed in the context of addressing their use in the mineral industry, considering the mechanism of their effect, effect on grinding efficiency, and effect on the downstream processes. Addressing these gaps will pave the way for the application of GAs in improving size reduction efficiencies, which ultimately reduces environmental impacts.