Development of a high gradient magnetic separator using high temperature superconductors

This is the final report of a one-year, Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). High-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) is an application of superconducting magnet technology to the process of magnetic separation of solids from other solids, liquids, or gases. The production of both high magnetic fields and large field gradients using superconducting magnet technology has made it possible to separate a previously unreachable but large family of paramagnetic materials. It is possible to separate more than half of the elements in the periodic table using this method. Because HGMS is a physical separation process, no additional or mixed waste is generated. This project sought to develop a high-gradient magnetic separator using a high-temperature superconducting magnet