How Does a Magnetic Separator Work?
Magnetic separator is used to separate either valuable minerals from non-magnetic gangue,e.g. magnetite from quartz,or magnetic contaminants or other valuable minerals from nonmagnetic values,based on the difference in magnetic properties between the ore minerals.The property of a magnetic separator that determines its response to a magnetic field is the magnetic susceptibility.Based on magnetic susceptibility,materials may be divided into two groups:those that are attracted to the magnetic field are designated paramagnetic materials;those that are repelled by a magnetic field are called diamagnetic materials.
Types of Magnetic Separator
Magnetic Separator can be either dry or wet. The magnetic separator can also be classified as Permanent or Electro Magnet Magnetic Separator. Magnetic separator for mineral processing industry falls into three basic categories: low, medium and high intensity, based on the relative magnetic field strength employed to accomplish separation. The following magnetic separators are commonly:
Wet high intensity magnetic separators (WHIMS)
Wet / dry low intensity magnetic drums (LIMS)
Induced roll magnetic separators (IRM)
Lift roll magnetic separators
Magnetic Separator Applications
Magnetic Separators have long been used to upgrade and beneficiate a wide variety of minerals and materials. Magnetic Separators can be applied in mainly three ways:
1. Magnetic Separators for concentration or purification;
Magnetic Separator can be applied in ore processing for separating magnetic materials, particular Iron. The advent of magnetic separation found favour in mineral processing for over 200 years ago.
2. Magnetic separators for product cleaning;
Most common applications are listed as below:
Purification of Kaolin;
Removal of magnetic minerals from high quality quartz sand;
Separation ilmenite, monazite, zircon and garnet
Wolframite, cassiterite, tantalite, columbites concentration.
3. Magnetic Separator for tramp iron removal;
Tramp iron separators act as protection to handling and processing devices such as screens, crushers, pulverizing machines etc. The magnetic separators for tramp iron removal includes magnetic pulleys of conveyor belts, plate magnets found in chutes, grate magnets incorporated and various magnetic drums that are installed as separate units in separators.