Plate magnet

A method for magnetic separation comprising:

• a) providing a container comprising a plurality of targets;
• b) adding a plurality of magnetically susceptible particles to the container such that at least some of the targets become linked to the magnetically susceptible particles;
• and
• c) positioning the container adjacent to a magnetic field of a two-dimensional magnet array having a plurality of magnets arranged adjacent to each other in rows and columns;
• wherein
• d) respective magnetic fields of magnets of said plurality of magnets in a first row of the array are arranged so as to define a first order Halbach array, and
• e) proceeding in a column direction of the array, respective magnetic fields of magnets of said plurality of magnets in each of a second and succeeding rows of the array are oriented in the same direction relative to respective magnetic fields of magnets of said plurality of magnets in any immediately preceding row, such that the plurality of magnets apply magnetic fields to the container to separate at least some of the plurality of magnetically linked targets from unlinked targets across the container.

A magnetic separation apparatus comprising:

• a) a plurality of magnetic elements defining a first two-dimensional magnetic array including a first dimension and a second dimension;
• wherein
• b) the plurality of magnetic elements include a plurality of one-dimensional magnetic arrays, each one-dimensional magnetic array comprising a plurality of magnets positioned adjacent one another extending in a first direction along the first dimension and oriented to define a Halbach array, the plurality of one-dimensional arrays being positioned adjacent to one another and extending in a second direction along the second dimension;
• c) the plurality of magnetic elements define an array surface having a magnetic field configured to attract magnetic particles towards the array surface;
• and
• d) the magnetic fields of the plurality of one-dimensional arrays are oriented in the same direction along the array surface.

A method for magnetically separating a plurality of targets from a suspension in a container unit, the method comprises:

• a) linking the plurality of targets with magnetic particles to provide a plurality of magnetically linked particles in the suspension;
• b) positioning the container unit in proximity to an array surface of a two-dimensional magnet array, the two-dimensional magnet array comprising a plurality of magnetic elements arranged to define a plurality of one-dimensional Halbach arrays adjacent to one another that each extend in a first dimension, wherein the magnetic fields defined by the plurality of one-dimensional Halbach arrays are oriented in the same direction along the array surface;
• and
• c) removing a portion of the suspension from the container unit while the container unit is positioned in proximity to the array surface.