Patent ID: 7658340

Claim:
A method for fluidizing nanoparticles comprising the steps of: (a) providing a nanoparticle feedstock that includes (i) nanoparticles having an initial agglomerate size distribution, and (ii) a plurality of magnetic particles; (b) exposing said nanoparticle feedstock to a flow of fluidizing gas and a magnetic force, wherein exposure of said nanoparticle feedstock to said flow of fluidizing gas and said magnetic force is effective to modify said nanoparticles so as to define a second, reduced agglomerate size distribution; and (c) establishing an expanded fluidized bed such that said modified nanoparticles are in a substantially fluidized state and said plurality of magnetic particles are in a non-fluidized state, wherein the fluidized nanoparticles are in dynamic equilibrium and are characterized by an agglomerate size distribution that is substantially equivalent to said second, reduced agglomerate size distribution.