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Acute temperature dependency in the cleansing of tarry feathers utilizing magnetic particles

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Abstract

We have conducted temperature-dependent studies on the removal of a solidified tarry residue from feathers using magnetic particles. These studies demonstrate an acute temperature dependency whereby no contaminant at all is removed below a certain temperature but, at and above this temperature, the removal rapidly approaches 100%. Significantly, this temperature is well below the temperature at which the tarry residue becomes a flowing liquid. This demonstrates that it is possible for magnetic cleansing to remove up to 100% of tarry residue from feathers under temperature conditions that would be benign to a bird.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank BHP Billiton Petroleum Pty. Ltd. for agreeing to fund this project. Sincere thanks are also extended to Mr. Stephen Weir of Höganäs AB, Australia, and Mr. Canto Leyton Ricardo of Höganäs AB, Sweden, for providing iron powder and technical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne City MC, Victoria, 8001, Australia

    John D. Orbell & Hien Van Dao

  2. School of Molecular Sciences, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne City MC, Victoria, 8001, Australia

    Lawrence N. Ngeh & Stephen W. Bigger

  3. Phillip Island Research Centre, Phillip Island Nature Park, Phillip Island, Victoria, 3922, Australia

    Margaret Healy, Rosalind Jessop & Peter Dann

Authors
  1. John D. Orbell
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  2. Hien Van Dao
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  3. Lawrence N. Ngeh
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  4. Stephen W. Bigger
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  5. Margaret Healy
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  6. Rosalind Jessop
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  7. Peter Dann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John D. Orbell.

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Orbell, J.D., Van Dao, H., Ngeh, L.N. et al. Acute temperature dependency in the cleansing of tarry feathers utilizing magnetic particles. Environ Chem Lett 3, 25–27 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-005-0107-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-005-0107-x

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