Assessing the performance of a novel pneumatic magnetic separator for the beneficiation of magnetite ore

A novel low-intensity pneumatic planar magnetic separator designed to recover and concentrate fine-grained magnetite minerals is investigated and the performance compared with those of conventional wet magnetic separators, i.e., Davis tube tester and drum magnetic separator. The results of the studies show that the magnetite recoveries and grades achieved by the novel planar magnetic separator compare favourably with that of the Davis tube tester. Moreover, the outcomes of the studies show that the magnetite concentrates recovered by the planar magnetic separator showed higher magnetite grades with fewer impurities than that of the wet drum magnetic separator. The findings from the study show that the planar magnetic separator could be a potential laboratory-scale substitute for the Davis tube tester, as well as replace wet magnetite beneficiation technologies in drought-ridden and remote regions where the paucity of water could be a potential economic challenge to wet processes.