Review of beneficiation techniques and new thinking for comprehensive utilization of high-phosphorus iron ores

As the world faces the rapid depletion of high-grade iron ore reserves, the abundant high-phosphorus iron ore deposits present significant potential for future exploitation. These ores, rich in the valuable elements of iron and phosphorus, necessitate the development of practical processes for upgrading iron and recovering phosphorus. Consequently, to promote the foundation and application research of high-phosphorus iron ores, this review first describes the mineralogical characteristics of two typical high-phosphorus iron ores including oolitic hematite and other iron ores. Secondly, this paper comprehensively reviews various beneficiation techniques for high-phosphorus iron ores such as physical beneficiation, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and their combined processes. Furthermore, technical challenges are summarized and discussed. Finally, to develop an eco-friendly method for treating ores on a large scale, a comprehensive direction of simultaneous concentration and separate recovery of iron and phosphorus from high-phosphorus iron ores is proposed. The process focuses on three topics: (1) Simultaneous concentration of iron and phosphorus during reduction roasting; (2) Dephosphorization for high-phosphorus hot metal using multi-phase slag; (3) Utilization of phosphorus from high-phosphorus slag. This strategy aims to enhance the value-added utilization of these resources and provide a guideline for the future development and utilization of high-phosphorus iron ores.