Comminution is an operation in the minerals industry, and is notable for its high energy
consumption. In this sense, proper operation of the equipment is essential to obtain
the desired particle size without wasting energy. In the plant, the ball mill is widely used
to promote particle size reduction and consequently mineral-ore liberation, in order to
meet the concentration stages. In addition to the operating parameters of this
equipment, attention must be paid to the wear of the internal lining. Some aspects of
the lining, such as the height of the lifter, the A/B ratio, among others, play a significant
role in the efficiency of the grinding process. The aim of this study was to evaluate
bauxite granulometry and the efficiency of the operation, comparing the product
obtained before and after replacing the ball mill lining. The results obtained showed a
16,84 % increase in grinding efficiency when compared to previous analyses, which
also showed a significant change in the grain size of the 0,5 mm mesh. In addition,
there was a thinning of the grain size curve of the milling product, caused by the change
of lining. Thus, after changing the lining, gains were seen in the processing of the
mineral, providing satisfactory results in the beneficiation plant.
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