Kaolin,　a　versatile　material,　is　widely　utilized　owing　to　its　distinctive　mineralogical　characteristics,　mineral　morphology,　and　chemical　and　physical　properties.　Whiteness,　a　critical　factor　in　determining　the　commercial　value　of　kaolin,　is　significantly　influenced　by　its　impurities.　Consequently,　impurity　removal　from　kaolin　has　emerged　as　a　primary　research　focus.　These　studies　have　concentrated　on　enhancing　kaolin＇s　whiteness　by　optimizing　critical　parameters　and　employing　innovative　separation　techniques.　On　this　basis,　this　article　reviews　various　methods　for　removing　and　separating　iron　(free　and　structural)　and　carbon　impurities　from　kaolin,　detailing　the　technical　principles,　optimizing　parameters,　and　elucidating　the　mechanistic　features　of　different　beneficiation　methods.In　addition,　this　paper　discusses　the　merits　and　limitations　of　these　methods　and　proposes　potential　future　research　directions.　This　paper　aims　to　guide　the　selection　and　development　of　strategies　for　kaolin　purification　and　the　decontamination　of　other　clay　minerals.　©　2025