Comminution process
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorsDerek A. Palgrave, Frederick A. Waite, James D. Birchall, John Cooper, James A. Enever
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Abstract
A process is described for the comminution of a solid material in the presence of a saturated solution of the solid in a liquid in which the solid has a solubility greater than 1%, and also in the presence of an additive dissolved in the saturated solution which can at least partially inhibit regrowth at crystal surfaces of the solid material. The process is of particular interest for the comminution of water-soluble salts in the presence of their saturated aqueous solutions and may be employed to make, inter alia, improved slurry explosives and fluid fertilizer compositions.
Claims11
A process for the preparation of a stable suspension of a fine crystalline substance suspended in a saturated solution thereof comprising comminuting the substance by grinding in the presence of a saturated solution of the substance in a liquid in which the substance has a solubility greater than 1% by weight, the mixture of said solution and said substance being in fluid condition with the substance being a separate solid phase during grinding, and said solution having dissolved therein an additive which is a crystal growth inhibitor for the substance whereby crystal growth is inhibited at both existing crystal surfaces and new crystal surfaces created by the breaking down of relatively coarse particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.