China is rich in iron ore resources, but refractory oxidized iron ore accounts for as much as 39.3% of the total. The difficulty in processing this type of ore has long limited its utilization by domestic steel companies. To address this challenge, JISCO focused on domestic resources and dedicated decades to tackling related technologies, ultimately achieving highly efficient use of iron ore resources.

The iron ore used by JISCO comes from the Jingtieshan Mine in the Qilian Mountains. Since the launch of its blast furnace in 1970, only half of the mined ore could enter the magnetic separation process. The other half—fine ore—piled up near the plant due to a lack of suitable technology and equipment, eventually forming a mountain of over 10 million tons.

In the 1970s, JISCO began developing high-intensity magnetic separation technology. They first designed and manufactured the SHP-1000 Jones-type high-intensity magnetic separator, achieving successful trials with Jingtieshan fine ore. Later, to meet production needs, they developed the SHP-3200 model.

While lump ore was processed using shaft furnace roasting and low-intensity magnetic separation—improving recovery rates but resulting in low concentrate quality and high impurities—the fine ore still lagged in efficiency.

However, as Chen Yilin, head of the suspension magnetization roasting project, noted, "While cationic reverse flotation improved lump ore concentrate quality, the recovery rate and concentrate quality of fine ore remained below industry standards. Maximizing the use of iron ore resources became our relentless pursuit."

In June 2016, JISCO launched the construction of a 1.65 million ton/year suspension magnetization roasting transformation project. After completing construction by the end of 2017 and starting trial operations in March 2018, the project faced multiple challenges during continuous trial production from November 2018 to March 2019, leading to a temporary shutdown for modifications.

"The beginning was tougher than expected. Issues kept emerging even after successful industrial trials," said Li Jingtao, then energy engineering lead for the project. During trial production, the team implemented 43 modifications and adjustments, overcoming problems such as material blockages in the drying section, over-oxidation of cooled products, short equipment lifespan, and poor cooling efficiency in the waste heat boiler.

Chen Yilin believed that waste heat recovery was crucial for energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions—key to large-scale adoption of the technology. With perseverance, the team worked day and night to redesign the system, ultimately resolving the blockage and achieving a steam output of 22 tons per hour.

On November 26, 2021, the Gansu Provincial Society for Metals organized an evaluation meeting, concluding that the technology had reached internationally leading levels and recommending its broader application.

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