Magnetic separation of material using eddy currents

Abstract: Non-magnetic, conductive particles are separated from one another on the basis of their respective electrical conductivities. This is achieved by irradiating the particles with microwave or radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and simultaneously subjecting the particles to a magnetic field. The eddy currents induced in the particles by the electromagnetic irradiation interact with the magnetic field to cause movements of the particles which are dependent on their conductivities.

Description: THIS invention relates to a method and means for separating materials. Mining operations almost invariably involve the extraction of valuable minerals which exist in very small quantities in the mined rock. This is particularly so in the case of valuable metals such as gold and silver. It is therefore considered that it would be advantageous to have a method and means whereby non-magnetic, electrically conductive materials such as gold and silver can be separated from other materials. US-A-4137156 discloses a method and apparatus in accordance with the precharacterising portion of claims 1 and 10 in which non-magnetic, conductive metals can be separated from mixtures by using a linear motor to provide a moving magnetic field. DE-A1-2336035 discloses a method for separating mineral pyrites by irradiating a sample with electromagnetic radiation of frequency 2.45 GHz. The invention provides a method of separating particulate material according to the electrical conductivity of the particles of the material, wherein the method comprises providing first means to generate a magnetic field and subjecting the particles to the field which by interaction with eddy currents in the particles causes movement dependent upon electrical conductivity, of electrically conductive particles; characterised by providing second means, separate to said first means, to generate microwave or radio frequency electromagnetic radiation selected to generate eddy currents in electrically conductive particles, and by irradiating the particles with the radiation substantially simultaneously with subjecting them to the magnetic field so that the eddy currents generated in the particles by the irradiation interact with the magnetic field to cause the movements. The invention also correspondingly provides an apparatus for separating particulate material according to the electrical conductivities of the particles of the material, comprising first means for generating a magnetic field and means for locating the particles in a position in which they are subjected to the magnetic field whereby interaction of the field with eddy currents in the particles causes movements of electrically conductive particles dependent on their conductivities; characterised by second means, separate to said first means, for generating microwave or radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and arranged to irradiate the particles with the radiation simultaneously with subjecting the particles to the magnetic field so that eddy currents induced in the particles by the electromagnetic radiation interact with the magnetic field to cause said movements. The particles are preferably irradiated with microwave radiation having a frequency in the range 10⁹Hz to 3x10¹¹Hz, or by radio wave radiation having a frequency in the range 10⁴Hz to 10⁹Hz. The magnetic field may be a moving or stationary field. In addition, the magnetic field may have a constant or varying intensity. In one version of the invention, the particles are passed through a microwave chamber in which they are irradiated with microwave radiation and in which they are subjected to the magnetic field. In another version of the invention, the particles are held in suspension in a liquid and are subjected to microwave irradiation and the magnetic field while so suspended. The invention can be used to separate gold particles from other particles. The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic side view illustrating a first embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a second embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 10 which illustrates the principles of the method of the invention. The figure illustrates a microwave chamber 12 in which is mounted a microwave generator 14 for generating microwaves having a frequency in the range 10⁹Hz to 3x10¹¹Hz. A glass dish 16 is placed on a conductive shielding plate 18 in the chamber 12 and contains an aqueous colloidal suspension 19 of fine gold particles together with other non-magnetic, non-conductive particles. A permanent magnet 20 is placed beneath the conductive plate 18 and means (not shown) are provided for moving the magnet in the direction of the arrow 22 in Figure 1. The magnetic field lines associated with the magnet 20 are vertical in Figure 1. With the microwave generator in operation, the magnet is caused to move in the direction of the arrow 22. The microwaves induce eddy currents in the gold particles in suspension. Such eddy currents interact with the moving magnetic field and give rise to an electromotive force which in this case urges the gold particles to move to the right in Figure 1, i.e. in the same direction as the magnet moves. No eddy currents are induced in the non-conductive particles which are also in suspension with the gold particles, and such particles remain in their original positions in the suspension. Thus a separation of the gold particles from the non-conductive particles is achieved. The extent to which conductive particles are moved by the interaction of the induced eddy currents and the moving magnetic field is dependent, inter alia , on the conductivity of those particles. It will be appreciated that particles with lower electrical conductivities such as, say, aluminium particles will be moved to a lesser extent than highly conductive particles such as gold particles. Thus it is not only possible to achieve a separation between conductive and non-conductive particles, but it is also possible to achieve a separation between particles of different electrical conductivity. In cases where it is desired to achieve the latter kind of separation with an apparatus such as that of Figure 1, the particles of different conductivities will be grouped, after a period of time, in different zones of the dish 16. In cases where it is desired to separate one particular kind of particle, such as gold particles, from other particles, the microwave frequency will be chosen to induce eddy currents of the desired magnitude in the desired particles so that the movement of those particles can be predicted and the desired particles recovered apart from other particles. In other words, the desired particles will be specifically targeted. On the other hand, where it is desired to make a general discrimination between various particle types having different electrical conductivities, a non-specific microwave frequency may be used to cause differing degrees of movement of the various particle types. An apparatus such as that of Figure 1 can be of practical benefit in assay procedures where it is desired, for instance, to determine the gold content of an ore sample. In such a case, the gold fraction is recovered and a computation may be made of the gold content of the sample as a whole. In the high throughput apparatus 30 depicted diagrammatically in plan view in Figure 2, milled and crushed ore particles 32 are fed onto an endless conveyor belt 34. The ore particles 32 contain a low concentration of small particles of valuable electrically conductive material, such as gold, which are to be separated from other non-conductive material or less conductive materials in the mass of ore particles. During their travel on the belt, the particles pass through a microwave chamber 40 in which they are subjected to microwave radiation having a frequency in the range 10⁹Hz to 3x10¹¹Hz. While being irradiated the particles pass between magnets 36 (only one visible in Figure 2) located above and below the belt 34. The magnets may be shielded from the microwaves by plates similar to the plate 18 of Figure 1. The field lines associated with the magnets are perpendicular to the belt, i.e. into the plane of the paper in Figure 2. As illustrated, the magnets 36 are arranged at 45° to the direction of belt movement, indicated by the arrows 38. Thus the magnetic field itself is at 45° to the-direction of movement of the belt and particles. The incident microwave radiation induces eddy currents in conductive particles. These eddy currents interact with the applied magnetic field to produce forces which tend to move the conductive particles sideways off the belt. The exact frequency of the microwaves is chosen to produce eddy currents of sufficient magnitude in small conductive particles for the resultant electromotive force to be great enough to cause the relevant particles to fall sideways off the belt. The remaining particles, which are either non-conductive or less conductive than the particles which it is desired to separate are not moved off the belt and continue moving on the belt. Such particles are discharged over the discharge end of the belt for collection separately from those particles moved sideways off the belt. The magnets 36 seen in Figure 2 may be arranged to move in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the belt up and down as viewed in Figure 2. Also, there can be a number of magnets 36 arranged side-by-side to produce a "sweeping" magnetic field acting on the particles. A sweeping electromotive force, resulting from the interaction of the eddy currents with the magnetic fields of the various magnets moves the relevant particles progressively in a sideways direction off the belt. In cases such as that exemplified in Figure 2, it will be appreciated that the physical nature of the particles, in addition to their conductivities, will also determine the extent to which they are moved. For instance, a lighter particle may be moved more easily than a heavier particle, even though the latter particle may have a higher conductivity than the former. Such factors will of course have to be taken into account in the design of a particular particle separation installation. As indicated previously, the invention is not limited to the use of microwave frequency electromagnetic radiation. Radio frequency electromagnetic radiation, in the frequency range 10⁴Hz to 10⁹Hz can also be used.

Claims: A method of separating particulate material according to the electrical conductivity of the particles of the material, wherein the method comprises providing first means (20) to generate a magnetic field and subjecting the particles (32) to the field which by interaction with eddy currents in the particles (32) causes movements dependent upon electrical conductivity, of electrically conductive particles; characterised by providing second means (14), separate to said first means (20), to generate microwave or radio frequency electromagnetic radiation selected to generate eddy currents in electrically conductive particles, and by irradiating the particles (32) with the radiation substantially simultaneously with subjecting them to the magnetic field so that the eddy currents generated in the particles by the irradiation interact with the magnetic field to cause the movements. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the particles (32) are irradiated with microwave radiation having a frequency in the range 10⁹Hz to 3x10¹¹Hz. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the particles (32) are irradiated with radio frequency radiation having a frequency in the range 10⁴Hz to 10⁹Hz. A method according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the magnetic field is a moving magnetic field. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the magnetic field is a stationary magnetic field. A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the particles (32) are passed through a microwave chamber (12, 40) in which they are irradiated with microwave radiation and in which they are subjected to the magnetic field. A method according to claim 6 characterised in that the particles (32) are conveyed through the microwave chamber (12) on a conveyor belt (34). A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the particles are held in suspension in a liquid and are subjected to microwave irradiation and the magnetic field while so suspended. A method according to any one of the preceding claims when used to separate gold particles from other particles. An apparatus for separating particulate material according to the electrical conductivities of the particles of the material, comprising first means (20) for generating a magnetic field and means (16, 34) for locating the particles (32) in a position in which they are subjected to the magnetic field whereby interaction of the field with eddy currents in the particles (32) causes movements of electrically conductive particles dependent on their conductivities; characterised by second means (14), separate to said first means (20), for generating microwave or radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and arranged to irradiate the particles with the radiation simultaneously with subjecting the particles (32) to the magnetic field so that eddy currents induced in the particles (32) by the electromagnetic radiation interact with the magnetic field to cause said movements.

Inventors: ROOS EDWIN HARM, ROOS, EDWIN HARM
Applicants: DE BEERS IND DIAMOND, DE BEERS INDUSTRIAL DIAMOND DIVISION (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B03C1
IPC codes: B03C1