Wet mechanochemical processing of celestine using (NH4)2CO3

In this study, traditional (univariate) method of processing to the wet mechanochemical treatment were applied to obtain both SrCO3 and (NH4)2SO4 from celestite (SrSO4)-(NH4)2CO3-H2O mixtures in a planetary ball mill. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and chemical analysis were used to analyze products formed during wet milling. A hydrometallurgical process was carried out to examine milling time, ball to grinding material mass ratio, (NH4)2CO3 to SrSO4 mole ratio and rotational speed of the mill in a planetary mill. Under optimum conditions, a conversion approaching 100% of SrCO3 was obtained.