Magnetic Separation is a process used to separate magnetic materials from non-magnetic ones using a magnetic field. It is widely applied in industries such as mining, recycling, food processing, and biotechnology.
Key Points:
1. Principle:
– Magnetic materials (e.g., iron, nickel, cobalt) are attracted to a magnet, while non-magnetic materials remain unaffected. 
2. Types of Materials Separated:
– Ferromagnetic (strongly attracted, e.g., iron).
– Paramagnetic (weakly attracted, e.g., aluminum).
– Diamagnetic (repelled by magnets, e.g., copper).
3. Applications:
– Mining: Separating iron ore from gangue minerals.
– Recycling: Removing metal contaminants from waste streams.
– Food Industry: Removing metal impurities from grains/powders.
– Biomedical: Isolating magnetic-labeled cells or proteins.
4. Equipment Used:
– Magnetic drums, pulleys, grids, or high-gradient separators (HGMS).
5. Advantages:
– Efficient for large-scale separation.
– Environmentally friendly (no chemicals needed).
6. Limitations:
– Only works on magnetic materials.
– Requires proper material size and magnetic susceptibility for effectiveness. 
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