Optimizing conditions for wet grinding of synthetic rutile using response surface methodology

In this paper, response surface methodology was applied to optimize the experimental conditions for the wet grinding of synthetic rutile. The effects of parameters such as rotation speed, solids concentration and duration of grinding on grinding efficiency were systematically investigated and the process conditions were optimized, using a nonlinear regression model based on central composite design. The statistical analysis of the results showed that in the range studied, the grinding efficiency of synthetic rutile was significantly affected by the rotation speed of the conical ball mill. According to results from analysis of variance, the value of the determination coefficient (R 2=0.9989) indicates that the predicted values are found to be in good agreement with experimental values. The optimized experimental conditions were as follows: a rotation speed of 350 rpm, a solids concentration of 27.31 % and a grinding time of 50.31 min, respectively. Under optimum conditions, the predicted grinding efficiency of 94.79% is obtained. The experimental values from the validation experiments were well within the predicted value of the model. Copyright 2011, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.