OPTIMIZING COAL GRINDING AND MECHANOCHEMICAL OXIDATION: BALANCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND EFFICIENCY

Mechanochemical technologies are widely recognized as highly relevant to green chemistry, as they minimize the use of reagents and processing steps while eliminating waste and the need for solvents. However, a common criticism of these technologies is their perceived high energy consumption. This study explores the key factors affecting energy consumption during the milling and mechanochemical oxidation of coal, along with strategies to minimize energy use while ensuring processing efficiency. For the laboratory-scale planetary activator, the specific energy consumption was reduced by 40%. It is shown that, for a semi-industrial flow-type centrifugal elliptical mill, the rotor frequency and throughput of the mill play a crucial role. For grinding purposes alone, one can change both parameters, but a rise in the humic acids yield can be achieved only at the highest rotor frequency. In addition to original conclusions regarding ways to optimize processing, the paper includes data on the specific energy consumption values of mills for various modes of coal processing. Research indicates that the mechanochemical equipment consumes significantly less power when processing coal, sand, cellulose, and lignin compared to the rated power of the motors.