Development and performance of a permanent magnet pulsating separator

To solve the problem of non-magnetic inclusion in concentrates and magnetic inclusion in tailings in the separation process of micro-fine magnetite, a novel permanent magnet pulsating separator (PMPS) was developed, employing the agglomeration mechanism of magnetite particles, and the dispersion mechanism of gangue minerals, whose magnetic poles arranged in a rectangular manner on plates on both sides of a separation chamber, and with alternating strong and weak magnetic fields generated in the separation area by reciprocating the plates. The magnetic field intensity was simulated by Infolytica Magnet software to optimise the parameters of the magnetic system. Laboratory PMPS was used to carry out tests on Sample I with a total iron (TFe) grade of 53.9% and an 89.83% passing size of 0.074 mm, and on Sample II assaying TFe 62.8% with a 75.21% passing size of 0.02 mm, and the operational parameters were optimised. Results indicated that PMPS upgraded Sample I and Sample II correspondingly to TFe 63.5% with a recovery of 87.1%, and to TFe 68.1% with a recovery of 92.0%, suggesting its amenability for the cleaning stage. If required, the separation chambers and magnetic systems of PMPS can be superimposed parallelly in the horizontal direction to allow for flexible enlargement of the processing capacity, characteristics of a simple structure, small occupation area, and large processing capacity. • PMPS produces a magnetic field with alternating intensity and direction. • PMPS employs a magnetic agglomeration mechanism to concentrate fine magnetite particles. • Alternating magnetic chains facilitate the removal of entrained gangue impurities by rising water. • PMPS offers variable processing capacities. • Experimental results suggested PMPS was superior to LIMS when treating fine magnetite particles.