Sulfur

Sulfur

HS Code : 25030090

Sulfur is one of the most important agricultural and industrial raw materials and is widely regarded as a strategic commodity. It is an odorless, tasteless, polyvalent non-metal, most commonly found as yellow crystalline solids derived from sulfides and sulfates.

While it can be mined in its elemental form, this method now accounts for less than 2% of global production. Today, the majority of elemental sulfur is recovered as a by-product of oil and gas refining during the hydrocarbon sweetening process.

The primary use of sulfur is in the manufacture of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), the world’s most widely produced chemical. Sulfuric acid serves as a vital intermediate for numerous industrial processes and is especially crucial in the fertilizer industry for producing phosphate, nitrogen, potassium, and sulfate-based fertilizers.

Uses of Sulfur

• Sulfuric Acid Production: The principal industrial use, critical for fertilizers and manufacturing.
• Agriculture: Used as a soil amendment and fungicide to correct sulfur deficiencies and combat powdery mildew.
• Rubber Industry: Employed in the vulcanization process to improve elasticity and strength in rubber products.
• Chemical Industry: Used in producing carbon disulfide, sodium sulfide, sulfites, and in paper bleaching.
• Pulp & Paper: Sulfur compounds assist fiber separation and delignification for paper production.
• Medical & Pharmaceutical: Forms include creams, powders, and lotions for treating acne, scabies, and dermatitis.
• Construction: Used to make sulfur concrete—an alternative to traditional cement.
• Emerging Applications: Research in lithium-sulfur batteries leverages sulfur’s high energy density.

Typical Specifications

Property	Typical Range / Description
Appearance	Bright yellow crystalline solid (S₈ form)
Purity	Varies: standard industrial grade up to ultra-pure (5N: 99.999%, 6N: 99.9999%)
Melting Point (α-S₈)	~115.2 °C; high purity variant ~112.8 °C
Density	~2.07 g/cm³ (α-S₈); high purity sulfur ~2.36 g/cm³
Forms	Powder, granule, lump, flake, tablet—varies by purity and processing
Solubility	Insoluble in water; soluble in carbon disulfide and ethanol