Targeted purification based on impurity characteristics: A new framework and frontier advances in magnesium refining

The application of magnesium and its alloys is constrained by insufficient corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, both of which are strongly influenced by material purity. When dealing with diverse impurities that exhibit substantially different physicochemical properties, conventional flux refining and sedimentation refining processes often face a trade-off between selectivity and efficiency. To address this challenge, this review proposes a targeted refining framework guided by impurity characteristics. Based on a systematic synthesis of existing purification approaches, impurities are classified into cathodic metallic impurities, non-metallic inclusions, and gaseous impurities, with their respective hazards and removal mechanisms critically examined. Furthermore, the review evaluates the efficiency advantages and application limitations of individual purification technologies and proposed that multi-technology coupling can achieve deep and comprehensive purification of magnesium melt. This review aims to provide theoretical references for an efficient, low-consumption refining technology system.