Method for directly reducing a material by means of microwave radiation

A process for the direct chemical reduction of a material, comprising the following steps:

• applying microwave radiation to a material placed in a microwave applicator cavity,
• heating to at least exceeding a shot temperature in the material, and
• separating fluid oxidation products generated from the reduced material,
• such that the process is carried out without using reducing chemical agents,
• wherein:
• the material is an inorganic material,
• application of microwave radiation produces a temperature increase between 50-200° C. over the shot temperature, and
• the shot temperature is a temperature at which electrical conductivity of the material is increased at least 4% within a 4° C. temperature increase with respect to the electrical conductivity of the material without reduction.