The Mill

Fig. 3.Z3 Adsorption isotherm of n-butane at 273 K on a sample of artificial graphite ball-milled for 192 b. The shoulder F appeared at a relative pressure which was the same for all six samples in the first milling run, all six in the second milling run, and also for two of the milled samples which had been compacted. The milling time varied between 0 and 1024 h, and the BET-nilrogen areas of the surfaces between 9 and 610 m g ...

The implications of the role that dietary fiber may play ia the maintenance of human health should iacrease the demand for cereal products. It may weU have an influence on the milling iadustry, especially if the demand for cereal products that are less highly milled becomes a reaHty. 

The first-break roUs of a mill are cormgated rather than smooth like the reduction roUs that reduce the particles of endosperm further along in the process. The rollers are paired and rotate inward against each other and at different speeds. The clearance between rollers and the pressure as well as the speed of each separate roUer, can be adjusted. At each breaking step, the miller selects the milling surface and the cormgations the speed of and interrelation between the rollers depend on the type and condition of the wheat. 

Typically, dry potassium nitrate is pulverized in a ball mill. Sulfur is milled into cellular charcoal to form a uniform mix in a separate ball mill. The nitrate and the sulfur—charcoal mix are screened and then loosely mixed by hand or in a tumbling machine. Magnetic separators may be used to ensure the absence of ferrous metals. The preliminary mix is transferred to an edge-mimer wheel mill with large, heavy cast iron wheels. A clearance between the pan and the wheels is required for safety purposes. The size of this gap also contributes to the density of the black powder granules obtained. Water is added to minimize dusting and improve incorporation of the nitrate into the charcoal. The milling operation requires ca 3 to 6 h. 

The precursor glass powders may be produced by various methods, the simplest being the milling of quenched glass to an average particle size of 3—15 p.m. Sol gel processes, in which highly uniform, ultrafine amorphous particles are grown in a chemical solution, may be preferable for certain apphcations. 

Lead Monoxide. Lead monoxide (litharge), PbO, occurs as a reddish alpha form, which is stable up to 489°C where it transforms to a yellow beta form (massicot). The latter is stable at high temperatures. The solubihty of a-PbO ia water is 0.0504 g/L at 25°C the solubihty of the p-PbO is 0.1065 g/L at 25°C (40). Lead monoxide is amphoteric and dissolves ia both acids and alkahes. In alkahes, it forms the plumbite ion PbO - The monoxide is produced commercially by the reaction of molten lead with air or oxygen ia a furnace. Black or gray oxide is manufactured by the Barton process, by the oxidation of atomized molten lead ia air, as well as by the ball mill process, ia which metallic lead balls of high purity are tumbled ia the mill to form partially oxidized lead particles. 

Sodium sihcate (41°Bh, 1 3.22 ratio Na20 Si02) is added in the milling operation to disperse the slime, mosdy kaolin. Dispersion also aids the grinding process. The rod mill serves to grind the ore to 0.833 mm (—20 mesh) or to the point where mica, quart2, feldspar, and iron minerals are Hberated. Cyclones, or rake, hydrauhc, or other types of classifiers, are used after grinding to produce coarse and fine mica fractions that are treated separately. 

The fines are classified out of the feed and pass through the air classifier into a baghouse, from which they are fed onto sieves, containing 165 p.m—0.124 mm (105—120 mesh) stainless steel wire cloth. Oversi2e mica from the sieves returns to the mill s grinding chamber for further grinding. 

In addition to encompassing all of the unit operations in the plant, the plant flow sheets may also include materials handling operations associated with the transport and storage of materials in and around the mill. Typically, flow sheets provide quantitative information regarding water and slurry flows, toimages, and assays. 

Dry soHds, such as as-rnined ore, emshed ore, and dried concentrates, are transported using tmeks, rail cars, ore passes, conveyor belts (see Conveying), or slurry pipelines (qv) as dictated by the logistics, distances involved, and capacity. Within the mill, conveyor belts are more common, but for fine particles, tailings, and coal, slurry transportation is more typical. 

Most uranium ore has a low, ca 1 part in 500, uranium content. Milling involves physical and chemical processing of the ore to extract the uranium. The mill tailings, which release gaseous radon-222 [13967-62-9] Ra, half-life 3.82 d, are placed in large piles and covered to prevent a local health problem. 

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