Superconducting High Gradient Magnetic Separation for Purification of Wastewater From Paper Factory

High gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) can be one of the promising ways for a new environmental purification technique because of producing no contamination such as flocculants and having possibility of treating large amount of wasted water within a short time. The magnetic separation system for purification of wastewater from the paper factory has been developed. The test plant of 2000 ton/day was set up in the actual paper manufacturing process and a purification test of the wastewater was performed. The magnetic seeding of the organic pulp and dyes were successfully performed and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) value for recycling was reached to less than 40 ppm after magnetic separation. The superconducting magnet for the system is 3 T, 680 mm long and 400 mm bore NbTi solenoid. The system mainly consists of a mixing tank (magnetic seeding tank), a settling tank, and a superconducting magnet. Floating magnetic flocks composed of magnetite particles and organic polymers such as pulp and dye are captured by magnetic force in the superconducting magnet chamber. Some magnetic flocks are precipitated at the settling tank by the gravity, which helps to reduce the amount of magnetic flocks going through the magnet chamber. The system has been successfully operated for several months