Patent ID: 7681736

Claim:
An apparatus for separating a stream of particles with individual sizes smaller than 300 μm and magnetic properties ranging from collective magnetism as in ferromagnetism to paramagnetism to diamagnetism comprising: a plurality of stages for separating a stream of particles with individual sizes smaller than 300 μm; a conveying mechanism for conveying the particles; a magnetic component producing a magnetic force associated with each stage; an aerodynamic component producing an aerodynamic force associated with each stage, where the more magnetic component or components of a feed of particles for each stage is separated and either or both the less magnetic product and the more magnetic product of each stage are the feed for separate succeeding stages with each stage and where the magnetic and aerodynamic forces along with gravimetric forces of each stage are chosen to separate more strongly magnetic particles from less magnetic particles, where gravity is used to collect the more strongly magnetic particles, the aerodynamic component including a first gas nozzle disposed above the conveying mechanism and directing gas at the magnetic component, and a second gas nozzle disposed below the conveying mechanism and directing gas at the magnetic component; and a suction nozzle which draws in the less magnetic particles.