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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M32214/01
Title: JREI: DIAMAGNETIC LEVITATION: NOVEL APPLICATIONS IN BIOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS ENGINEERING & PHYSICS
Principal Investigator: Main, Professor P
Other Investigators:
Benedict, Dr KA Miles, Professor N King, Professor P
Eaves, Professor L Power, Dr B Roberts, Professor J
Davey, Dr M Atkin, Dr B Lowe, Dr K
Briarty, Dr L Blackhall, Mr N Cloke, Dr M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Oxford Instruments Ltd
Department: Sch of Physics & Astronomy
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: JREI
Starts: 26 February 1999 Ends: 25 May 2002 Value (£): 143,956
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Complex fluids & soft solids Instrumentation Eng. & Dev.
Waste Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
A multi-disciplinary team proposes to explore two novel applications of a combination of high magnetic fields and high field gradients. The first is to provide a microgavity and variable growing environment for a variety of experiments on physical and biological systems using the diamagnetic levitation technique recently demonstrated by a group involving one of the applicants (Prof Peter Main). The magnetic field induces the diamagnetism and the field gradient provides the necessary force to overcome gravity. The second application is to develop new techniques of magnetic separation for recovery of waste material by using the high field gradient to remove the necessity for a magnetic matrix. In the short term, the feasibility and limitations of the techniques will be investigated and the experiments performed by members of the consortium. In the longer term, we anticipate the involvement of an even larger multi-disciplinary range of collaborators and further industrial involvement. Our intention is to develop this project into a UK microgravity facility. A state-of-the-art closed cycle cooling system is an essential component of the equipment requested as it removes the necessity for external cryogenic fluids to refrigerate the magnet.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk