High gradient magnetic separation using superconducting bulk magnets

We aim to apply the superconducting bulk magnets to high gradient magnetic separation technique. Two bulk magnets are face-to-face arranged and a pipe stuffed magnetic filters composed of ferromagnetic wires is placed between the magnetic poles. We setup the magnetic separation system and test it using slurry mixed with hematite particles (Fe2O3). Y123 bulk superconductors are magnetized by the 'IMRA' method (pulsed-field magnetization), and consequently a magnetic field of 1.59 T is generated at the center of 20 mm gap between the magnetic poles. As a result of experiment on the magnetic separation, hematite particles of over 90% were removed from slurry at the flow rate of 2 l/min