Several countries produce sulfur from petroleum and natural gas in significant quantities, including:
- China – Leads globally with a production of approximately 19 million tons in 2023.
- United States – Ranks second with 8.6 million tons, of which 93% is recovered sulfur.
- Russia – Produces around 6.96 million tons.
- Canada – Approximately 5.32 million tons.
- Saudi Arabia – About 4.9 million tons.
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Around 5.3 million tons.
Most of the world's sulfur today is recovered from oil refining and natural gas processing, rather than direct mining. This approach minimizes environmental impact and maximizes resource efficiency
Petroleum-derived sulfur typically has high purity and is available in different forms, such as granules, flakes, or powder. Here are some common specifications:
General Specifications:
- Purity: ≥ 99.95% (dry basis)
- Color: Bright yellow (no dark particles)
- Moisture Content: ≤ 0.5%
- Ash Content: ≤ 0.05%
- Organic Matter: ≤ 0.07%
- Acidity (H₂SO₄): ≤ 0.02%
- Bulk Density: 1040–1200 kg/m³
- Granule Size: 2mm – 6mm
Industrial Applications:
- Sulfuric Acid Production – Used in fertilizers, chemicals, and batteries.
- Rubber Industry – Essential for vulcanization.
- Metallurgy – Used in ore processing.
Pharmaceuticals & Agriculture – Found in fungicides and insecticides.
