(57) A process which is especially useful for effecting magnetic separation of magnetically
attractable impurities from an aqueous clay slurry or suspension includes passing
the suspension (42) through a porous, ferromagnetic matrix while applying a magnetic
field to the matrix (10), on which impurities are collected, and thereafter regenerating
the matrix by flushing collected impurities therefrom with a flush liquid (26), e.g.
water. The improvement comprises, after discontinuing the passage of the suspension
through the matrix, but before passing flush liquid therethrough, admitting a pressurized
gas (68) e.g. compressed air, into the separator to displace suspension retained therein,
and recovering the displaced suspension. In addition, flush liquid retained in the
matrix after the flushing step may be displaced therefrom by the compressed air. By
displacing the retained suspension from the matrix with compressed gas instead of
flush liquid the retained suspension is not diluted and is recovered instead of sewered
as in the prior art processes.
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