Biomass-derived grinding aids

A method for increasing grinding efficiency of particles being ground to finer particle size, comprising:

• introducing a grinding additive composition into a plurality of particles to be ground to finer particle size, said particles comprising cement particles, cement clinker particles, calcite particles, limestone particles, aragonite particles, sea shells particles, marl particles, limonite particles, clay particles, shale particles, sand particles, bauxite particles, blast furnace slag particles, or mixture of said particles;
• said grinding additive composition being employed in an amount of 0.001% to 1.0% by weight based on weight of said plurality of particles to be ground, and said grinding additive composition comprising Component A and Component B wherein
• (A) Component A comprises a diol, triol, or mixture thereof, said Component A being derived from a plant or animal biomass material and having an average molecular weight of 50-200, said biomass-derived Component A comprising:
• (i) a glycerol derived from biofuel production, said glycerol being present in an amount of at least 50-95% based on weight of said grinding additive composition, and further comprising, where Component A comprises said glycerol, at least 0.005%-50% by weight based on weight of said grinding additive composition of a non-glycerin organic material derived from a plant or animal biomass material;
• or
• (ii) a glycol derived from a carbohydrate or sugar;
• or
• (iii) a mixture of (i) and (ii);
• and
• said Component A further comprising a nonglycerol organic matter (hereinafter “MONG”) derived from said plant or animal biomass material, said MONG being present in an amount not exceeding 15% by weight of said grinding additive composition;
• and
• (B) Component B comprising a cement additive selected from the group consisting of a glycol where Component A is a biomass-derived glycerol, triethanolamine, acetic acid or salt thereof, triisopropanolamine, sodium acetate, diethanol-isopropanolamine, tetrahydroxyethylethylene diamine, a carbohydrate, a polycarboxylate ether, an air entraining agent, a chloride, a nitrite, a nitrate, or a hexavalent chromium reducer;
• and
• grinding said grinding additive composition and said plurality of particles together using a grinding mill selected from the group consisting of a rolling ball mill, a mill having rotating cylinders, or a circular table mill having rollers, whereby said plurality of particles are ground to a finer particle size.