Can aluminum pellets be extracted from a pile of coal with a powerful industrial magnet?

Question

Can aluminum pellets be extracted from a pile of coal with a powerful industrial magnet?

Answer 1

  Aluminum is not magnetic it can't be done.

Answer 2

Neither aluminum nor coal are magnetic, so the answer would be no.  

If the pellets don't have to remain pellets, theoretically you COULD separate the mixture by putting it all in sulphuric acid.  The aluminum would dissolve, so you could drain the acid solution off, then recover the metal by electrolysis of the solution...

http://www.alumaxbath.com/tech/aa.htm

Answer 3

no

Answer 4

Iron, Cobalt and Nickel are the only elements that are magnetic.  If the Aluminum were to be alloyed with one of them it's possible that there might be enough of an attraction that the alloy could be extracted from crushed ore.  I'm no metallurgist, but I think Aluminum is pretty selective and not naturally alloyed with many other metals.  

Answer 5

Aluminium is not magnetic, but you can induce eddy currents within it, which will repell it from a magnetic field.

By running your mixed material on a conveyer, and using an electromagnet system, you can force it off to one side thus separating it.

This system is used in recycling plants to remove useful metals, and has even been used in military rail guns to propell an aluminium projectile - requiring no propellants. The test was comparible to flamable munitions.  - Declassified.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y54aLcC3G...

Answer 6

you have to use a special aluminum magnet that is only sold at Wal-Mart

Answer 7

   NO. Magnets only attract iron or iron containing matals