THE EFFECT OF MAGNETIC-FIELD STRENGTH ON THE EFFICIENCY OF MAGNETIC SEPARATION

Magnetic force is the dominant external force in a magnetic separator and since this force is proportional to the magnetic field strength it is often claimed that by increasing the magnetic field the performance of a magnetic separator would improve. Although such is the case in some fundamental studies where a single-collector approach is used, in a real-matrix situation the role of the magnetic field strength is more complicated and an increase in the magnetic field strength can often have a negative effect on the performance of a magnetic separator. The reasons for this discrepancy are analyzed, a realistic description of particle capture in a real matrix is outlined and the complex effect of the magnetic field strength on the efficiency of magnetic separation is demonstrated by experimental results from various application.