How does a magnetic separator work and what uses can it have?

A magnetic separator is a device that uses a magnet to remove impurities and other magnetic materials from metal. Magnetic separators can be used before, during and after the production of a material and can be adjusted to attract different types of magnetic materials at different intensity levels.

Although its use is almost always industrial in nature, a magnetic separator is used for a wide variety of applications. Magnetic separators can be ferromagnetic or paramagnetic and can vary in size from a table version to a large, heavy drum used in recycling and other manufacturing applications.

How is a magnetic separator used?

A magnetic separator consists of a powerful magnet that is placed or suspended from a ceiling or device. Materials can be passed over a table top magnetic separator, while suspended magnetic separators often hang over a material to remove its impurities. Magnetic separators can also be cylinders through which objects pass. The material that purifies a magnetic separator can be in the form of parts, a finished product or even a liquid metal. With this, a magnetic separator is characterized by:

• To be an excellent machine to separate magnetic materials from concentrates.

• Removes natural magnetic minerals such as magnetite, as well as steel filings from metal processing material and iron particles.

• Remove magnetic like gold concentrates, because it allows gold to recover much more easily.

What are the applications of a magnetic separator?

A magnetic separator is often used for industrial purposes such as:

• Waste plants.

• Chemical production plants.

• Handling equipment, conveyor belts.

• Liquid treatment plants.

• Recycling.

• Agricultural machines.

They are also found in scientific laboratories that constantly require metallic materials that are free of impurities (often the case of chemistry). In this case, the magnetic separator is usually a cylinder or flask that prevents cross-contamination between two different substances by forcing all or some of the magnetic materials of a substance into a separate container.

Advantages of a magnetic separator

Magnetic separators are powerful, portable and can be adjusted to remove various types of magnetic materials from a liquid or solid. They are most effective when used in a liquid, although it is also possible to remove solid impurities. Magnetic separators are very versatile and incredibly simple in design. In fact, a basic magnetic separator can be built at any time, using only a powerful magnet such as neodymium magnets and a clamp to hold the material down.

And what are the disadvantages?

The main disadvantage of a magnetic separator is that it must be constantly maintained. The magnetic separator should be washed or cleaned to remove accumulated magnetic materials, while oil should be added to moving parts. In the case of an electromagnetic separator, the electromagnets must be able to be switched off at any time in case of emergency.

For industry, the magnetic separator comes in a different range of products such as magnetic drums, which are ideal for the continuous removal of ferrous particle contamination from any bulk material in the dry state, as well as magnetic drums with housings, which provide good separation in applications where there is a high concentration of metal contamination.

There are also magnetic pulleys, overband, magnetic plate, magnetic filters, removable magnetic grids, electromagnetic plate, magnetic hump and magnetic bars, among others.

In short, the magnetic separator creates a magnetic field of high intensity and very high gradient capable of attracting very weak materials such as iron oxides, weak magnetic powders and a high amount of paramagnetic, so if you are interested in knowing more about it, IMA can advise you on the magnetism solution that best suits your project. If you have questions, you can contact us.