Research Symposium

BIO

Abigail Patterson is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at Florida State University. She conducts research at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory on high-gradient magnetic separation of weakly magnetic nanoparticle suspensions, with a focus on particle behavior around magnetized spheres and the effects of magnetic field strength and geometry.

Abigail is interested in renewable materials and rare earth separations and is exploring future opportunities in engineering and related fields.

High Gradient Magnetic Separation of Weakly Magnetic Nanoparticle Suspension Around a Sphere

Abstract

This study investigates the magnetophoresis behavior of weakly magnetic nanoparticle suspensions using spheres in a non-uniform magnetic field. Experiments were conducted with paramagnetic manganese oxide and diamagnetic bismuth oxide nanoparticles at various concentrations (10–100 mg/L) and magnetic field strengths (0.25–1 T). Paramagnetic nanoparticles were attracted toward the spheres, forming small vortices and concentrating near the surface. Their separation dynamics depended on sphere diameter, concentration, magnetic field. In contrast, diamagnetic bismuth oxide nanoparticles exhibited good separation with spheres, showing an increased response compared to wires, with the same range of concentration and magnetic field. Numerical simulations confirmed the formation of particle clusters for both types of nanoparticles, especially under high magnetic field strengths, highlighting new insights into their magnetophoretic behavior with spheres.

Keywords: High-Gradient Magnetic Separation, Nanoparticle Transport Magnetophoresis, Magnetic Field Gradients , Rare Earth Separation