What is a magnetic separator?

PTMS magnetic separation

How is magnetic separation used in everyday life?

What is a magnetic separator?

A magnetic separator is a waste management method that uses a magnet to separate metal from waste. This is most common in recycling single and mixture streams because the materials are collected and separated prior to processing.

The magnetic separation system was first used in the scrap yard after the Second World War. These magnetic systems are mainly electromagnets, which are bulky, expensive, rely on power supplies, and are notorious for overheating. The development of ceramic materials has made permanent magnets available for separation. By the end of the 1970s, magnetic separation had undergone another development, introducing three different separation methods: overhead magnets, magnetic pulleys and drums. Since the recycling industry, these three methods have been used to remove metals from recycled materials.