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

China's significant reliance on imported iron ore is due to its poor resource endowment and low utilisation levels. Given the urgent demand for iron ore resources, it is crucial to conduct basic research and cutting-edge technology exploration around co-associated refractory iron ore to realise the efficient utilisation of these resources. This study reports on the physicochemical properties and beneficiation methods including conventional separation, leaching, deep reduction and smelting for refractory iron ore. This work focuses on summarising the four types of magnetisation roasting equipment, technology, parameter optimisation, mechanism characteristics, current challenges and trends: vertical furnace magnetisation roasting, rotary kiln magnetisation roasting, fluidisation magnetisation roasting and microwave magnetisation roasting. Based on this, a new method of hydrogen-based microwave fluidisation magnetisation roasting is proposed. This method offers selective, rapid heating and high efficiency in heat and mass transfer. It provides ideas for clean, efficient and low-carbon utilisation of refractory iron ore resources.