Continuous, hybrid field-gradient device for magnetic colloid based separations

A continuous, hybrid field-gradient device for magnetic colloid base separations which comprises:

• a chamber;
• the chamber having a wall, the wall being secured to a sleeve, the sleeve being adapted for rotatable movement;
• an electromagnet surrounding at least a portion of the chamber;
• an alternating current solenoid surrounding a least a portion of the chamber, the electromagnet and the solenoid forming a magnetic unit;
• and
• a computer in communication with the electromagnet wherein target particles having an affinity for surface functionalized magnetic particles are separated from a feed stream when the feed stream and the magnetic particles are continuously flowed into the chamber as the chamber rotates, the solenoid introducing a time varying axial magnetic field gradient that causes translational and rotary oscillation of the magnetic particles thereby enhancing the mixing of and the contact between the target particles and the magnetic particles, the electromagnet generating a radial magnetic field gradient within the tube to allow the magnetic particles and the target particles bound to the magnetic particles to be drawn to the walls of the tubes, the computer controlling the residence time of the magnetic particles and the target particles bound to the magnetic particles on the walls thereby allowing for the uninterrupted flow of the feed stream and magnetic the particles during the separation.

A magnetic affinity separation process which comprises:

• continuously introducing a feed stream into a chamber, the feed stream comprising target particles;
• introducing a magnetic particle into the chamber, said magnetic particles having a binding affinity for the target particles;
• subjecting the particles to translational and rotatable oscillations to enhance the mixing of and the contact between the particles to bind the magnetic particles to the target particles to form capture particles;
• immobilizing the captured particles on the chamber wall;
• controlling the residence time of the captured particles on the chamber wall;
• and
• recovering the target particles.