Computational Study on Stability of Magnetite and Quartz Suspensions in an External Magnetic Field

Abstract

The stability of fine magnetite and quartz particles in an aqueous suspension exposed to an external magnetic field has been studied through the computations of potential energies of interaction between the particles, on the basis of extended DLVO theory, in this work. The effects of several parameters, such as magnetic field intensity, particle size, and zeta potential, on the stability of single or mixed suspensions of magnetite and quartz fines have been investigated and discussed. Also, the criterion for coagulation of the minerals in fine size range has been established.

Keywords:

• Suspension stability
• magnetic coagulation
• DLVO theory
• magnetite
• quartz

Acknowledgments

Financial support of this work from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) of Mexico under the grant #485100‐5‐38214‐U is gratefully acknowledged. Also, Garcia‐Martinez and Llamas‐Bueno thank the CONACyT for providing them the Ph.D. scholarships in No. 158133 and No. 170585.