Aspects of Talc Grinding in the Presence of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate

In this study, the effect of sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS), as a well-known flotation collector, on talc grinding was investigated using a statistical design in terms of solids%, pH, grinding time, and SDS dosage taking the d₈₀ of the ground product as a response. The results indicated that the factors under study significance order were grinding time > solids% > SDS dosage > pH. In addition, the interactions between solids % and the grinding time and between the solids% and SDS dosage significantly affected the product d₈₀. More interestingly, the presence of SDS not only improves the grinding process at short grinding times but also it enhances the grinding at higher pH values. The optimum conditions for talc grinding are similar in the absence or presence of SDS in terms of factors under study, except for solids%. The vital role of SDS, as a grinding aid, is the production of particles with the same fineness or even finer at higher solids % which leads to an increase in the mill throughput. The smallest d₈₀ was obtained at 60% solids, 60 min, pH 4, and 2 kg t⁻¹ of SDS.