Characterization of a magnetic separation process and its application to magnetotactic bacteria Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum.

摘要

Can a quantity mum, magnetophoretic mobility be used in analogy to mass to calculate the motion of magnetic particles suspended in a fluid and subjected to a magnetic field? Can the complex physics of magnetic particle movement in a magnetic field be thoroughly investigated and a model developed that will accurately predict the motion of these particles? What kinds of particle movement and separation experiments are necessary to establish and characterize the mum, concept?; Four Hypotheses are explored in this dissertation. Hypothesis 1. A common parameter, magnetophoretic mobility, predicts the instantaneous velocity of magnetotactic bacteria in an externally applied magnetic field, and this parameter serves as a basis for magnetic manipulation of suspensions of M. magnetotacticum. Further, this concept is applicable to any magnetically susceptible particles. Hypothesis 2. Using the concept of magnetophoretic mobility, M. magnetotacticum and other magnetically susceptible particles' movements may be predicted. Hypothesis 3. Using test equipment, the predictions of these bacteria and other particles may be verified. Hypothesis 4. Based on their magnetophoretic mobility, M. magnetotacticum cells and other susceptible particles can be separated into subpopulations according to their magnetic susceptibility.