Magnetic separation

Magnetic separation is a process that separates materials according to their response to a magnetic field, using magnets or magnetic fields to extract or divert selected particles.

Magnetic susceptibility: A measure of how much a material becomes magnetized in response to an applied magnetic field. Differences in susceptibility help determine which particles a separator can attract.
Magnetic beneficiation: The upgrading of ore by separating valuable minerals from gangue according to magnetic response. It is a major mineral-processing use of magnetic separation.
Diamagnetism: A form of magnetism in which an applied field induces a weak moment opposing that field. Diamagnetic particles are weakly repelled, producing a response unlike strongly attracted feed components.
Froth flotation: A mineral-separation method that uses air bubbles and surface chemistry to recover selected particles from a slurry. It sorts by surface behavior rather than response to a magnetic field.
Magnetic force: The force exerted on magnetic materials or magnetic moments by magnetic fields. The force must overcome fluid drag, gravity, and particle adhesion to separate a target.
Iron ore: Rock containing iron-bearing minerals in concentrations suitable for extraction. Magnetic separation can concentrate magnetic iron minerals such as magnetite from surrounding waste rock.
Paramagnetism: A form of magnetism in which unpaired atomic moments align weakly with an applied field. Paramagnetic minerals can be captured when the field and its gradient are sufficiently strong.
Gravity separation: A method that separates particles using differences in density and their motion under gravity or centrifugal force. It can process similar mixtures but relies on density contrast instead of magnetism.
Magnetic field gradient: The spatial rate of change of a magnetic field's strength or direction. A strong gradient creates the force that pulls susceptible particles toward a collector.
Recycling: The recovery and reprocessing of discarded materials into usable products or raw materials. Magnets remove ferrous metals from mixed waste streams before further sorting.

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