Applied mechanochemistry of solids (a review)

This review paper deals with the application of broad possibilities of mechanochemistry in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, chemical engineering, building industry, coal industry, materials engineering, agriculture, pharmacy and waste treatment. In several applications pilot plants units or full commercial units were successfully applied. The environmental aspects of these processes are particularly attractive. The main advantages in comparison with traditional technological procedures are decrease in number of technological stages, exclusion of operations that involve the use of solvents and gases and last but not the least the possibility obtaining a product in the metastable state which is difficult to obtain using traditional technological methods. There is a great potential of mechanochemistry in technology and several examples with a possibility for industrial applications are given.