Particle Flocculation and Filtration by High-Gradient Magnetic Fields

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Abstract
Flocculation and filtration of micrometer-sized particles in a high-gradient magnetic field (HGMF) were investigated. Experiments were conducted using a cryogenic magnet of 6 Tesla maximum strength. Hematite particles were used for flocculation and filtration experiments. A new approach of using magnetic fields to enhance separation of weakly magnetic particles was also investigated. This approach is based on magnetic seeding which involves flocculation of existing nonmagnetic particles with injected paramagnetic particles. A particle-flocculation model was developed based on trajectory analysis. External forces due to gravity and magnetism, and interparticle forces such as electrostatic, hydrodynamic, magnetic dipole, and van der Waals forces, were taken into consideration in these models.