High Gradient Magnetic Separation

Recently, the high gradient magnetic separation process, which can produce effectively a high gradient magnetic field with a large space efficiency, has been advanced in the fields of magnetic separation. The high gradient magnetic separation, first introduced in 1968 as a means for the removal of very fine magnetic contaminants from clay including not only ferromagnetics but also feebly magnetics, is no longer a new technology. However, the principle of this process, which has been recognized previously, was devised in the high intensity wet magnetic separators (HIWMS) such as the Frantz ferrofilter and the drum separator. Then, applications to a number of solid-solid and solid-liquid separations problems are now being exploited. Recent pilot tests and full-scale industrial installations of high gradient magnetic separators (HGMS) and filters have established their commercial viability and have demonstrated their superiority both in efficiency and cost effectiveness to conventional prior art methods for water treatment and mineral processing.This paper will address some recent test results obtained by using HGMS in Japan after reviewing the physical principles and structural characteristics of HGMS and HIWMS.