Wet high intensity magnetic separation: efforts taken to adapt the machine to the mineral separation plant of IREL, chavara

Abstract

Magnetic separation has long been used to upgrade and beneficiate a wide variety of industrial minerals. Advances in both wet and dry magnetic separators over the years has broadened their use, and questions are often raised about which separation technique or equipment type is most appropriate for a particular operation. Minerals separation based on magnetic susceptibility differences in particles is accomplished wet or dry, at various intensities and in different basic machine configurations. The following types of industrial magnetic separators used in a modern mineral sands plant: − Wet high-intensity electromagnetic separators (WHIMS) − Wet low-intensity drum separators (LIMS) − Dry high intensity induced roll magnetic separators (IRMS) − Dry low intensity drum-type separators or ‘scalper’ magnets − Dry high-intensity rare-earth drum (RED) separators, and − Dry high-intensity rare-earth roll (RER) separators The selection of magnetic separation technology depends on many processing factors, including particle size, and the specific assemblage of minerals and grades as well as their corresponding magnetic susceptibility. Additionally, production and marketing factors must also be considered.