Advances in Fine Particles Processing

Book excerpt: Processing of fine particles has presented numerous challenges to scientists and engineers for many years. Considerable progress has al ready been made in meeting these challenges across various fields of applications around the world. Research on every aspect of fine particle processing has gained momentum in recent years, resulting in the development of new processes, improved products, and better understanding of the science and engineering fundamentals of fine particles. This symposium addressed the recent progress in fine particles processing, particularly in the production of minerals for chemicals, pigments and metal production, ceramic materials, and fossil fuels. This book represents the edited proceedings of the International Symposium on Advances in Fine Particles Processing, where selected peer-reviewed papers describe current practices, review the state of the art and report original fundamental and applied research on fine particle production, sizing, characterization of the interface, fluid flow, and interparticle colloidal interactions, leading to dispersion, flocculation and flotation. Processing of fine particles by multi-chemical, physical and biological phenomena has also been addressed. Accordingly, the book consists of seven parts, with each part addressing a specific topic. Part One deals with production of fine particles by comminu tion methods where different milling practices, mathematic modeling and physical chemical control methods are reported. Part Two covers particle flow properties in various fluids. Part Three addresses surface and colloidal phenomena in fine particle processing, while Part Four continues this topic but with emphasis on clay minerals.