Vortex tube lined with magnets and uses thereof

A method for separation of a component from a gaseous mixture of paramagnetic species and diamagnetic species, comprising:

• receiving a gas mixture having one or more disposed paramagnetic gas species and one or more disposed diamagnetic gas species into a separation chamber, wherein the separation chamber has a circumference and a length which extends between a distal end and a proximal end;
• separating the received one or more disposed paramagnetic gas species and one or more diamagnetic gas species via a counter-flowing pair of vortices configured in the separation chamber;
• inducing a magnetic field gradient in the separation chamber using a plurality of magnetic elements coupled to an outer wall of the separation chamber wherein the plurality of magnetic elements are placed lengthwise in a circumferentially arranged pattern about the circumference of the separation chamber with each magnetic element of the plurality of magnetic elements having a respective pole alternating in polarity with respect to each adjacently positioned magnetic element of the plurality of magnetic elements so as to induce the magnetic field gradient between each of the adjacently positioned magnetic elements, wherein the one or more disposed paramagnetic gas species are magnetically contained adjacent the inner wall of the separation chamber resulting from the induced magnetic field gradient so as to aid in the separating of the received one or more disposed paramagnetic gas species;
• and
• promoting the one or more disposed paramagnetic gas species to exit liquified at the distal end and to promote a residual of the one or more disposed paramagnetic gas species to exit at the proximate end so as to substantially separate from the one or more disposed diamagnetic gas species.