Sustainable and efficient magnetisation roasting technology for iron recycling and utilisation from refractory iron ores: Recent advances and perspectives.

This article focuses on the development and beneficiation of refractory iron ore resources in China, emphasizing magnetisation roasting technologies as effective methods for improving iron recovery and resource utilisation. It reviews conventional beneficiation, leaching, deep reduction, and smelting processes, noting their limitations in efficiency, environmental impact, or cost when applied to complex, low-grade iron ores. The article highlights four main types of magnetisation roasting—shaft furnace, rotary kiln, fluidisation, and microwave roasting—detailing their mechanisms, advantages, and challenges. It proposes a novel hydrogen-based microwave fluidisation magnetisation roasting technology that combines selective rapid microwave heating, efficient fluidised bed heat and mass transfer, and clean hydrogen reduction to achieve low-carbon, high-efficiency processing of refractory iron ores. This approach aims to address environmental concerns and improve the sustainable utilisation of China's complex iron ore resources.