Mechanochemical and Size Reduction Machines for Biorefining

Area of Science:

• Biomass Refining
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Mechanochemical methods are increasingly used in biomass refining.
• Mechanical pretreatment enhances the reactivity of polymers and plant materials.
• Current equipment selection often relies on trial and error, leading to inefficiencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and compare modern equipment for mechanochemical pretreatment of plant raw materials.
• To highlight promising devices for enhancing material reactivity.
• To provide guidance for selecting appropriate mechanochemical activation equipment.

Main Methods:

• Review of modern equipment types, including disc mills, attritors, bead mills, ball mills, planetary mills, vibration mills, roller mills, extruders, hammer mills, knife mills, pin mills, disintegrators, and jet mills.
• Comparison of equipment based on their modes of action and suitability for mechanochemical pretreatment.
• Analysis of how different mechanical impacts affect material properties.

Main Results:

• Proper selection of mechanochemical activation equipment enhances material reactivity.
• Key improvements include increased surface area, reduced crystallinity, and disordered supramolecular structure.
• Efficient methods reduce energy consumption and equipment wear.

Conclusions:

• Optimized mechanochemical pretreatment significantly improves the energetic and economic viability of biomass refining.
• Careful equipment selection is vital for maximizing material reactivity and process efficiency.
• Mechanochemical activation offers a powerful approach for modifying solid-phase polymers and plant materials.