Mechanochemistry treatment of low quality mineral raw materials

Processing of mineral raw materials of insufficient quality in industrial conditions is usually achieved through: flotation, magnetic, gravitational, electrostatic and hydrothermal technologies. At the beginning of the twentieth century the classification of different areas of chemical engineering was made according to the type of energy entered into the system: The term mechanochemistry was related to the type of reactions initiated by mechanical energy. During the mechanical grinding process a number of processes occurs in materials, which influence the synthesis, modification, adsorption, coating and other technological operations of mineral raw materials. These processes are: the generation of new surface reaction, phase transformation of polymorphic materials and the formation of dislocations and defects in the crystal lattice and chemical reactions. Mechanical treatment of solids starts with a complex series of mechanical energy transformation inhibiting the regulation of crystal structures, when cracks and new surfaces are formed.All these processes occur in a short period of time, in which is not possible to achieve the thermal equilibrium in systems. After this period, known as plasma phase, a post-plasma period occurs, in which relaxation processes consume energy and achieve the Maxwell-Boltzmann's distribution. It is this period that is responsible for the formation of many products of the reaction.