Goudsmit Magnetics, Waalre, the Netherlands has recently produced a rotating magnetic separator designed for the metal-free processing of lithium-ion powder intended for batteries. The quality of cathode powders such as nickel, cadmium and lithium must be optimal to guarantee the operation of a battery. Any metal contamination present in the powder reduces the quality of the material mix and leads to a battery's short life. The automatic cleaning rotating magnetic separator filters metal articles as small as 30µm from the poorly flowing lithium powder. Lithium is extracted from salt lakes such as the Salar de Atacama in Chile, where there are huge reserves of brine containing lithium. Some large producers process this lithium into a powder that serves as a raw material for batteries used in electric cars, laptops, mobile phones, etc.

The magnetic separator contains nine strong, rotating magnetic bars that prevent the fine powder from sticking to the bars like a bridge. The rotating movement ensures that the product does not block on the bars, so that effective deferrisation is possible. The contact with the magnetic bars is therefore optimal. This is important because weakly magnetic particles in particular must touch the magnetic bars. The pneumatically operated magnetic bars of Ø50 mm have a deep catch field. With a flux density of 12,000 gauss on the bars, the magnet can capture paramagnetic particles such as iron oxide and stainless steel in addition to iron particles. The magnetic separator is dust-proof and can be cleaned automatically. The valve box in the system removes the captured metal particles on site.

The increasing demand for batteries for laptops, telephones and electric cars, for example, is driving up the price of raw materials extractable from mines. This applies to substances such as nickel, cadmium and lithium - the cathode powders - as well as to anode powders such as graphite, carbon black or silica. www.goudsmitmagnets.com

 

The automatically cleanable, rotating cleanflow magnet removes iron particles and weakly magnetic particles of 30ųm and larger from anode and cathode battery powders, such as lithium
 

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