Particle separation by horizontal deflection in paramagnetic fluid

•Ore samples with different densities and susceptibilities were effectively separated.•The separation efficiency would depend on the property and complexity of ores.•The compositions with different ash contents in coal were effectively separated.•The method could be further developed for the separation of PCB particles.

This paper describes the horizontal deflection behaviour of the streams of particles in paramagnetic fluids under a high-gradient superconducting magnetic field, which is the continued work on the exploration of particle magneto-Archimedes levitation. Based on the previous work on the horizontal deflection of a single particle, a glass box and collector had been designed to observe the movement of particle group in paramagnetic fluids. To get the exact separation efficiency, the method of “sink–float” involved the high density fluid polytungstate (dense medium separation) and MLA (Mineral Liberation Analyser) was performed. It was found that the particles were deflected and settled at certain positions on the container floor due to the combined forces of gravity and magneto-Archimedes forces as well as a lateral buoyancy (displacement) force. Mineral particles with different densities and susceptibilities could be deflected to different positions, thus producing groups of similar types of particles. The work described here, although in its infancy, could form the basis of new approach of separating particles based on a combination of susceptibility and density.

Graphical abstractWhen streams of particle such as ore samples and coal particles were put in the same magnetic system, particles with different densities and susceptibilities settled down at different positions on the container floor due to the combined forces of gravity and magneto-Archimedes as well as a lateral buoyancy (displacement) force.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide