Method and apparatus for continuous magnetic separation

A magnetic separator comprising:

• (a) a canister having an inner elongate relatively thin cross-sectional space and an inlet port for receiving a flow of paramagnetic and diamagnetic particles through the longitudinal extent of the inner space of the canister;
• (b) a ferromagnetic wire disposed outside of said canister and adjacent to the longitudinal dimension of said canister;
• (c) magnetic means for magnetizing the wire with a magnetic component transverse the longitudinal axis of the wire such that substantially everywhere in the inner space of the canister a radial force is exerted on particles passing therethrough and substantially no azimuthal forces are exerted on said particles;
• and
• (d) outlet ports in said canister opposite the inlet port and laterally spaced from said wire for collecting said particles in accordance with their magnetic moment.

A magnetic separator for separating particles which have the same susceptibility comprising:

• (a) a non-magnetic canister having a generally rectangular inner cross-section with a relatively narrow space between two opposing walls of said canister;
• and a plurality of inlet ports at one end of said canister for receiving a flow of said particles within the longitudinal inner narrow space of the canister each port being coupled to a fluid of different fluid magnetic susceptibility such that flow of such fluids through the canister forms a spatial distribution of magnetic susceptibility transverse to the direction of fluid flow;
• (b) a single ferromagnetic wire disposed adjacent to and extending along the length of said canister;
• (c) magnetic means for magnetizing the wire with a magnetization component transverse to its longitudinal axis to create a radial force everywhere in the narrow space adjacent to the wire, which force is imparted to particles passing through the space;
• and
• (d) outlet ports in said canister at an end opposite the inlet port and laterally spaced from said wire for collecting said particles in accordance with their size.

A method of magnetic separation comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing a flow of particles through an inlet port to a non-magnetic canister having a generally rectangular inner cross-section with a relatively narrow space between two opposing walls of said canister;
• an inlet port at one end of said canister;
• (b) disposing a single ferromagnetic wire adjacent and external to and extending along the length of said canister;
• (c) magnetizing the wire with a magnetization component transverse to its longitudinal axis to create a radial force substantially everywhere in the narrow space adjacent to the wire, which force is imparted to particles passing through the space and substantially no azimuthal force is exerted thereon;
• and
• (d) collecting said particles in accordance with their magnetic moment.

A method of magnetic separation comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing a flow of particles to a canister having an inner cross-sectional space for receiving a flow of particles through the longitudinal extent of the inner space of the canister;
• (b) disposing a ferromagnetic wire adjacent and external to the longitudinal dimension of said canister;
• (c) magnetizing the wire with a magnetic component transverse the longitudinal axis of the wire such that substantially everywhere in the inner space of the canister a radial force is exerted on particles passing therethrough and substantially no azimuthal forces are exerted thereon;
• and
• (d) collecting said particles in accordance with their magnetic moment.