Dry beneficiation technology with an air dense medium fluidized bed is briefly introduced. Systems for the dry separation of fine coal consisting of a magnetically fluidized bed (MFB) as separation medium are described. The magnetic stabilization produces homogeneity and stability of the fluidized bed and thus enhances the separation efficiency by preventing remixing of the feedstock to be separated. Experiments have been conducted in a 100-mm inner diameter cylinder and results show that a uniform and stable MFB can be formed and fine coal (<6 rum size) can be separated efficiently. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.